The Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch has detected property worth around Rs 2 crore belonging to Anil Pandi, one of the most notorious drugs traffickers in the State, who is wanted in Odisha and Gujarat in multiple cases of contraband smuggling.
Following the detection of the property, which is believed to have been accumulated through the proceeds of crime, the STF officials have moved the Authority and Administrator of NDPS Act, Kolkata seeking their forfeiture.
Anil is a native of Chhachina village under Kodala police station limits of Ganjam district, STF said. Though the Gujarat police managed to nab his brother, Sunil, Anil is still absconding. In December last year, the STF had announced cash reward for information on Anil’s whereabouts.
STF sources said that the detected properties of the drug mafia include one three storied building having luxurious facilities including a swimming pool, 33 plots and bank deposits. While the building is believed to be of worth around Rs 1.5 crore, the valuation of other properties is in process.
It is also suspected that Anil might be having similar properties in Gujarat and Maharshtra too. The Odisha police are in touch with their Gujarat counterparts in this regard, a senior STF official said.
“Competent Authority and Administrator of NDPS Act, Kolkata, who is a quasi-judicial authority under NDPS Act has been requested for forfeiture of the illegally acquired property.
In this case, on August 13 last year, around 10 quintals of Ganja, one truck and other incriminating materials were seized,” the STF said in a release.
It is pertinent to mention here that there is a provision of seizure and forfeiture of ill-gotten property (illegally acquired property from Narcotics business in last six years) under the provision of chapter V A of NDPS Act (Section A- Z).