Nagpur: In a major anti-drug operation, the Crime Branch’s Anti-Narcotics Squad apprehended a man in possession of 20 grams of MD powder near Shastri Nagar, NIT Ground, Wathoda T-Point in the Nandanvan Police Station limits here, on Tuesday morning.

Acting on a tip-off received between 6:00 am and 7:30 am on May 6, the police team spotted a suspicious man standing near a moped. Upon questioning, he identified himself as Vijay Nandlal Rahangdale (43), a resident of Sangharsh Nagar, Wathoda Ring Road, Nagpur. A search of his person led to the recovery of MD powder concealed in a ziplock pouch.

In total, police seized contraband and other items including the MD powder, a mobile phone, a moped, an electronic weighing scale, ziplock bags, and cash — all valued at ₹2,03,500. Upon interrogation, Rahangdale revealed he had procured the drugs from wanted accused Shahid Sheikh of Yashodhanagar and was to deliver it to another wanted accused, Prema Rajesh Gaur.

The accused was reportedly in possession of the drugs for personal financial gain. A case under Sections 8(c), 22(c), and 29 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Nandanvan Police Station, and the accused has been handed over to police for further investigation. Efforts to trace the absconding accomplices are ongoing.

This operation was executed under the guidance of Commissioner of Police Ravinder Kumar Singal, Joint CP Nisar Tamboli, Additional CP (Crime) Sanjay Patil, DCP (Detection) Rahul Makanikar, and Assistant CP (Crime Branch) Abhijit Patil, by PI Gajanan Gulhane and his team.