A press release by the Pune Rural Police in this regard had earlier identified the seized drug as mephedrone. However, a sample later revealed that it was alprazolam.

The team zeroed in on a serving constable of the Ahilyanagar police. After the investigation obtained concrete evidence that he was involved in the sale of drugs, he was arrested on Wednesday. A total of 10.7 kilograms of crystalline alprazolam was seized from the agent, including the kilogram initially seized.

Police later got crucial clues about a larger drug trade after the seizure of the first kg of drugs from Shirur. Police identified the arrested officer as Shyamsundar Gujar (39), who is currently posted in the Local Crimes Division of Ahilyanagar police and has been given the responsibility of inventorying items seized in criminal cases. Gujar was arrested on Wednesday and produced before a court in Shirur. The court has remanded him in police custody till January 26.

An official who is part of the investigation and did not wish to be named said: “Among several crucial clues we are investigating is how he managed to divert the seized drugs despite all checks. We have confirmed that the arrested police officer was in the administrative wing that looked after the seized items. We are investigating the upstream and downstream links of this police officer in the diversion and sale of drugs and his alleged links within the police machinery. It is very likely that someone within the police force was also involved in this.”

When contacted, Sandeep Singh Gill, superintendent of police, Pune rural, told The indian express“We are investigating every possible angle. We are also seeking court permission to methodically investigate how he managed to divert drugs from the system. It is a sensitive investigation and we are pursuing it thoroughly.” So far, police have arrested a total of five people along with Shaikh and Gujar. Police have identified the three more suspects as Dnyandev Shinde (37), Rushikesh Chittar (35) and Mahesh Gaikwad (27).

Somnath Gharge, superintendent of police, Ahilyanagar, said on Wednesday: “We have been informed of the arrest of the officer. We have initiated strict action against him.” Alprazolam is a prescription anxiolytic that belongs to the benzodiazepine category and is commonly abused and abused for its sedative effects. Due to its high potential for abuse and dependence, the drug is regulated under the NDPS Act in India when possessed or trafficked without a valid authorization.

In a major anti-drug operation carried out in May last year, the Ahilyanagar police seized over 69 kilograms of Alprazolam crystal and over 338 kilograms of raw materials used for its manufacture. The action was taken following specific intelligence inputs about the smuggling of large quantities of drugs from Ahilyanagar town in Shrirampur.