Ex-MLA's son booked in ephedrine haul case, declared an absconder

AHMEDABAD: Kishoresinh Rathod (43), son of former BJP MLA from Sami-Harij, Bhavsinh Rathod, who defected to the Congress in 2012, has been booked in connection with the seizure of 1,300 kg ephedrine at Kanbha on Thursday.
Sources said that Kishoresinh, who has been slapped with sections of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, is believed to be the kingpin of an international drug cartel.
On Thursday, crime branch sleuths arrested one Narendra Kacha from the spot while Kishoresinh and four others have been declared absconders. Bhavsinh Rathod, however, claims that his son is in Mumbai and in touch with him.
The ephedrine seized from Ria Industries is estimated to be worth Rs 270 crore. Incidentally, the drug is a `controlled' chemical used to manufacture the `party drug' methamphetamine.
“The ephedrine consignment was collected by Kishoresinh and Jay Mukhi from a factory in Solapur (Maharashtra) owned by a trader named Punit who hails from Vadodara. It was offloaded at Ria Industries on Thursday morning,“ said JCP (crime branch) JK Bhatt.
Names of Zahid, an NRG based in Morocco; former Chhota Rajan aide Ravi Pujari; and member of an international drug mafia Vicky Goswami have surfaced during investigation. Kishore met Zahid and drug lords from Poland in London and Dubai.
Bhatt said the possibility of a terror angle in the drug racket cannot be ruled out. The drug network is believed to be spread across Poland, Dubai and Goa, the police officer said.
“The party drug was to be shipped out of the country as medicine shortly,“ said Bhatt. A newly installed idol of legendary tribal leader and freedom fighter Birsa Munda was found desecrated by unidentified persons on Friday in Chhota Udepur.
The idol was unveiled by Sangramsinh Rathwa, one of the board of directors of Baroda Dairy on Thursday evening. Police have booked 15 persons following the incident.
Sources said that there were difference of opinion between Congress and Aam Admi Party (AAP) workers over the look of the idol. Locals said that the AAP workers felt that the idol looked older than Munda who died in his youth. The idol was completed and was kept on Club Road for the last two months and it was officially unveiled on Thursday.
“It was shocking for the locals to find the idol with its head and arms damaged. We believe that it as damaged late on Thursday night. AAP workers had earlier written an application to the collector and police against installing the statue,“ said P C Baranda, superintendent of police (SP), Chhota Udepur.
Baranda added there was no violence due to the desecration.
Sources said a part of the desecrated idol was later thrown at Sangramsinh's residence.