The Maharashtra Congress has intensified its criticism of the state government after the Mumbai Crime Branch uncovered a massive drug manufacturing operation in Satara district, alleging that senior leaders in power are attempting to dilute the seriousness of the case and conceal politically sensitive details. The controversy erupted after police seized a staggering ₹115 crore worth of mephedrone (MD) drugs, chemical stock, and equipment from a concealed production unit in Savari village — a location uncomfortably close to areas linked to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The investigation began with a routine seizure of 136 grams of mephedrone from two individuals in Mulund, Mumbai. However, interrogation quickly led officers to a chain of suppliers across Thane and Pune, eventually pointing them toward a remote farm structure known locally as Jalka Wada. The shed, previously used for buffalo, had been converted into a fully functional illegal narcotics laboratory. Police seized 7.5 kilograms of finished mephedrone, 38 kilograms of liquid precursors, and a large amount of raw material — signalling an organised, well-funded operation rather than a small-scale unit. Three arrests have been made so far.
The Maharashtra Congress, led by state president Harshwardhan Sapkal, alleges that the government is actively downplaying the size and reach of the drug network. Sapkal questioned how dozens of labourers from West Bengal could have lived and worked in an isolated village without local support, and under whose protection such an extensive operation flourished unnoticed. He also raised pointed questions about Omkar Dighe, claiming Dighe attempted to secure the premises under the pretext of work for Shiv Sena corporator Prakash Shinde. According to Sapkal, Dighe was initially detained at the raid site but later released due to political pressure.
The Congress leader further sought clarification on the presence and activities of nearly 40 additional labourers who allegedly fled the scene, and demanded transparency on whether police pursued them or documented their escape. He referenced another arrest — that of Vishal More, the Ajit Pawar faction’s Pune student wing chief, who was caught with two kilograms of MD. Sapkal asked whether More had links with Dighe or Prakash Shinde, noting that these connections raise significant red flags.
Adding to the suspicion, Sapkal questioned reports that Prakash Shinde left Tejas Hotel shortly after the arrests, asking whether law enforcement conducted a proper panchnama at the location. He also raised concerns about the secrecy with which senior Mumbai Crime Branch officials and the Satara Superintendent of Police operated during the raid, suggesting an attempt to restrict access to information and curb public scrutiny.
Calling the case extremely serious, Sapkal criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis — who also serves as the Home Minister — for maintaining silence despite the gravity of the revelations. He demanded an immediate, transparent explanation from the government, insisting the public has a right to know whether political interference, negligence, or deliberate cover-ups allowed a large-scale narcotics network to flourish.
According to the Congress, the state machinery appears to be working not to expose the truth, but to minimise the political fallout of what could be one of Maharashtra’s most significant drug operations in recent years.
