Navi Mumbai: A 24-year-old constable at Taloja Central Jail was arrested by Kharghar police after he was found in possession of 45.92 grams of charas (cannabis concentrate) worth Rs 46,000 and 36 sleeping pills that he smuggled into the jail premises for delivery to an undertrial on Monday afternoon.Acting on a complaint lodged by Taloja jail Hawaldar Devendra Solanki (37), the accused jail constable, Aditya Shelar, a resident of Diva, was booked under relevant sections of NDPS Act that prohibits the production, manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, transport or consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance in India, except for medical or scientific purposes. API Pradip Wagh of Kharghar said as per the complainant, jail Hawaldar Solanki, when constable Shelar resumed duty on Monday around 3.15pm, he was suspected to be carrying something in his trouser pocket. Solanki frisked Shelar and found him carrying 8 pencil cell-sized capsules wrapped in black sticking plaster. Solanki alerted circle officer Nikhil Kate, who in turn informed higher authorities. Shelar was detained for inquiry at the jail security officer’s cabin, where the authorities opened one capsule and found a black-coloured substance. API Avhad said a police team with forensic experts reached the jail premises and tested the substances which confirmed that five capsules contained ‘charas’ collectively weighing 45.92 grams. The other three capsules contained 36 Nitrazepam 10mg tablets (sleeping pills) for which doctor’s prescription is mandatory. The seized charas is estimated to be worth Rs 45,920 and the sleeping pills worth Rs 1,800. The Panvel court has remanded the accused to police custody till June 29.Pramod Wagh, Taloja jail superintendent, said the accused constable has reportedly told the Kharghar police that a woman relative of an undertrial had given the drugs to him at Kharghar railway station. “It was to be delivered to an undertrial, but he has not yet disclosed his identity. .Accordingly, an internal inquiry has been initiated and all undertrials and their barracks are been routinely checked to ensure no drugs are hidden by them,” said Wagh. — George Mendonca
