Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Crime Branch has moved the Competent Authority and Administrator of NDPS Act, Kolkata for forfeiture of ill-gotten property of a drug mafia.
In chapter V (A) of NDPS Act (Section A- Z), there is a provision of seizing and forfeiture of ill-gotten property (illegally acquired property from Narcotics business in the last six years).
During investigation, the STF has seized properties worth of Rs 2 crore, acquired by one Anil Kumar Pandi, a native of Ganjam district, out of illegal contraband ganja (cannabis/marijuana/weeds) business.
The 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, said an official of STF.
In this case, contraband ganja around 10 quintals, one Tata Truck and other incriminating materials were seized on August 13, 2021.
The seized properties include one palatial three storied building having luxurious facilities including a swimming pool and 33 plots and bank deposits etc. while the building has been evaluated by PWD R&B to be of worth around Rs 1.5 crore, valuation of other properties is in process.
It is also suspected that he might be having such properties in Gujarat and Maharashtra too. The Odisha police is in touch with Gujarat police in this regard.
A detailed proposal for confirmation of seizure/ forfeiture of the properties earned out of contraband drugs business was sent to the office of Competent Authority, Kolkata as per provision of the NDPS Act, 1985.
It is worth mentioning that Anil Pandi is one of the most wanted drug traffickers having multiple cases in Gujarat and Odisha. Earlier his brother Sunil Pandi was arrested by Gujarat police.
Anil Pandi is absconding evading arrest. Court has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him. The STF has already declared a reward in December last year, as the accused has been absconding since long