Mandrax unit in Rajkot raided; Rs 10 cr worth goods seized

This time, a joint team of Ahmedabad, Jamnagar and Gandhidham officials, headed by deputy director C M Sharma, raided Omni Engineering Industries Private Limited in GIDC Industrial Estate in Lodhika village under Matoda taluka of Rajkot district and seized raw material for manufacturing 400 kg methaqualone powder as well as 11.5 kg methaqualone.

Officials said the raids were conducted on atip-off that a factory on the Kalawad Road, some 15 km away from Rajkot, was manufacturing mandrax tablets. The officials sealed the machinery, the processing laboratory, and the dryer.

Sharma said the factory used to manufacture sheet metal parts. A tablet manufacturing machine was installed recently as production of first consignment was underway during the raids.

Bhanushali, hailing from Kutch, was in 1994 involved in the supply of five tons of mandrax power to Mumbai from Kadi in Mehsana district. The contraband was seized by police at a dock after his arrest. However, the undertrial fled police custody in January 1997 when he was being taken to a sessions court in Mumbai. He was also wanted by the Mumbai Customs Department in connection with the export of masoor dal to Dubai four years ago, after the officials seized his two containers at the Mumbai dock.

Officials said he had holed himself in Rajkot under the name of Rambhai.