Jaipur, May 18 (IANS) In one of Rajasthan’s largest financial crackdowns against narcotics traffickers, the Baran Police has launched massive action under “Operation Vajra Prahar”, targeting properties and bank assets allegedly acquired through the drug trade.

Acting under Section 68-F of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, police have initiated proceedings to permanently freeze movable and immovable assets worth approximately Rs 5.82 crore linked to alleged narcotics smuggler Kishore Kumar Meena, his brother Ghanshyam Meena, and his wife Anita Meena.

The action includes the freezing of two luxurious bungalows, a Scorpio sport utility vehicle, a Maruti Suzuki car, a tractor, a motorcycle, a scooter, and bank balances running into crores of rupees.

Police said the accused will now be barred from using, selling, or transferring these assets.

Superintendent of Police Abhishek Andasu said the operation was conducted under the state’s “Zero Tolerance” policy against narcotics trafficking.

According to the Superintendent of Police, a confidential financial investigation was launched into assets allegedly accumulated through illegal drug trafficking activities by Kishore Kumar Meena, a resident of the Chhipabarod police station area, along with his family members.

During the investigation, police found that two serious Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act cases involving commercial quantities of narcotics are already pending against the accused.

In those cases, police had previously seized a total of 263 kilograms of Doda-Chura (crushed opium pods), whose estimated international market value was around Rs 39.45 lakh.

The financial probe further revealed suspicious bank deposits of nearly Rs 3.32 crore in the accounts of the three accused over the past few years, despite the absence of any known legitimate source of income.

Additionally, movable and immovable assets worth nearly Rs 2.50 crore were identified during the investigation.

Police officials stated that a detailed financial investigation report prepared by the Chhipabarod Police Station was submitted before the Competent Authority functioning under the Government of India in New Delhi.

Following scrutiny, approval was granted for freezing the assets under Section 68-F of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

The operation has also triggered investigations by multiple agencies.

According to police, the Income Tax Department has begun examining properties allegedly disproportionate to the accused’s known income.

The Stamp Department is probing suspicious notarised property documents, while Goods and Services Tax-related and money laundering angles linked to firms associated with the accused are also under investigation.

Superintendent of Police Abhishek Andasu stated that the Baran Police would not limit its campaign to merely arresting narcotics traffickers but would also target the financial infrastructure built through illegal earnings.

He said such actions are aimed at breaking the economic backbone of drug syndicates and warned that similar financial crackdowns would continue in the future.

Station House Officer Yogesh Chauhan of Chhipabarod Police Station, along with Vinod Kumar, Vimlesh Mehta, Constable Anil Kumar, and Constable Kanwarpal from the Superintendent of Police’s office, played key roles in the operation.

–IANS

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