MP minister's brother arrested in inter-state ganja racket
What's the story
A major inter-state ganja (cannabis) smuggling racket has been busted in Madhya Pradesh's Satna district. The police arrested two people, including Anil Bagri, the elder brother of Pratima Bagri, the Minister for Urban Development and Housing. The arrests were made after a raid on a certain Pankaj Singh's house in Marahuan village on Sunday night. Over 46kg of ganja worth more than ₹9 lakh was seized during the operation.
Drug bust
Police raid leads to significant drug seizure
The Rampur Baghelan police station conducted the operation on a specific tip-off. The ganja was found stashed in sacks under a tin shed at Singh's house. After the raid, Singh was arrested, and he revealed that Anil Bagri had brought the consignment to his house in an SUV on December 4. This information led police to arrest Anil Bagri as well.
Legal proceedings
Accused booked under NDPS Act, sent to judicial custody
Both Singh and Anil Bagri have been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. They were produced in court on Monday and sent to judicial custody. During interrogation, Anil Bagri revealed he transported the consignment on the orders of his brother-in-law, Shailendra Singh 'Shibbu.' Shailendra is currently lodged in Banda jail after being arrested in a ganja smuggling case in Uttar Pradesh.
Ongoing probe
Police plan to bring Shailendra Singh for further investigation
Shailendra has a history of narcotics cases, having been arrested in a cough syrup smuggling case in the Satna district in September 2024. The police are now planning to bring him on a production warrant from Banda Jail for further investigation into this racket. Preliminary investigations suggest that the ganja consignment was sourced from Beohari (Shahdol), and key players may have links to Chhattisgarh.