Chavan's statement was recorded after arrested senior inspector of the Anti-Narcotics Cell (Azad Maidan unit) Suhas Gokhale, in his statement, was said to have told investigators that he had informed the DCP about receiving a tip-off about Marine Drive constable Dharamraj Kalokhe being involved in the drug racket.
The crime branch late on Saturday recorded the statement of deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Namdeo Chavan to further their investigation in the alleged narcotics case against five policemen and drug queen Baby Patankar.
Chavan's statement was recorded after arrested senior inspector of the Anti-Narcotics Cell (Azad Maidan unit) Suhas Gokhale, in his statement, was said to have told investigators that he had informed the DCP about receiving a tip-off about Marine Drive constable Dharamraj Kalokhe being involved in the drug racket. Chavan was posted as DCP with the ANC when the five policemen were arrested. He was recently transferred to traffic.
According to crime branch sources, there was too much ambiguity and confusion in the case and, hence, it had become necessary to record Chavan's statement. "Gokhale claims that he had received information about Kalokhe having stocked drugs in his village in Khandala and had informed Chavan," said a crime branch officer. "Gokhale also told investigators that his superiors told him to wait and not raid Kalokhe till the information was verified."
Sources added that Chavan's statement will throw light on the sequence of events on the day Gokhale, as per his claims, passed on the information to his superiors. When contacted, Mumbai police spokesperson deputy commissioner of police Dhananjay Kulkarni said, "We are recording his statement... I can't share anything more at this point of time."
The Satara police had raided Kalokhe's home in Khandala and seized 110kg of what was alleged to be mephedrone and placed hm under arrest. Later, the Mumbai police recovered 12kg of the same from Kalokhe's locker at the Marine drive police station.
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