Drug racket case: Mumbai court orders Mamta Kulkarni's properties to be attached

In the multi-crore drug racket case registered in 2016, a special Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) court in Thane ordered the attachment of properties of one of the key accused, former Bollywood actor Mamta Kulkarni.

The special court judge, HM Patwardhan, ordered the attachment of three plush flats owned by the actress worth Rs. 20 crore in various areas of Mumbai.

This was announcedafter she failed to appear before the court in connection with the drug case. The court declared her “absconding”.

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In the judgement, Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hirey said the court directed for attachment of the three properties of Kulkarni after the prosecution moved an application for it.

The drug racket case was unearthed by the Thane court in 2016. Kulkarni was named the prime accused in the case linked to drug baron Vicky Goswami. At the time, a senior Thane police official had said that they would initiate the process for the extradition of Kulkarni and Goswami, who were said to be in a relationship. The two are now currently based in Kenya in Africa.

The drug racket came to light when police seized around 18.5 tonnes of ephedrine, worth approximately Rs. 2,000 crore, after raiding the premises of Avon Lifesciences Ltd in Maharashtra's Solapur district in April 2016. According to the police, ephedrine, a controlled drug -- was allegedly being diverted from the Solapur unit of Avon Lifesciences and sent abroad after processing.

For those who are unaware,Ephedrine powder is used for sniffing and to produce the popular party drug methamphetamine.Interestingly, just before the racket was unearthed, 100 kg of ephedrine was manufactured at Avon Lifesciences' premises and dispatched by air to Kenya.