The alleged mastermind in the seizure of drugs worth Rs 25.65 crore (yaani about Rs 256.5 million) was shot in the leg by Ahmedabad Crime Branch personnel on Monday evening after he allegedly attempted to escape while being taken for a medical check-up near the Sabarmati Riverfront, police said.

Source: IANS via HiIndia

The accused, Kafeel Ahmed alias Javed, 59, was being escorted by a Crime Branch team led by Sub-Inspector Raval when the incident occurred at around 4:30 p.m., Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sharad Singhal told IANS. Singhal said Ahmed had allegedly struggled with the police personnel and attempted to snatch the sub-inspector's revolver, and that the officer also sustained an injury to his hand during the scuffle. 'The accused was trying to escape, and the police fired,' Singhal said.

An official told IANS that Ahmed had complained of chest pain and nausea before being taken for a medical examination, that the bullet had been removed, and that both Ahmed and the sub-inspector were receiving treatment.

Source: Nation Press (Ahmedabad search listing, Oct 26)

Ahmed is one of three men arrested on October 21 in a joint operation by the Ahmedabad and Surat Crime Branches, in which police said they seized around 4.5 kg of heroin and 2.5 kg of mephedrone, or MD, from a Mahindra XUV near the Ramol toll plaza on the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway. Police said the drugs, valued at Rs 25.65 crore at international market rates, were concealed in packets of instant drinks and raisins. The other two arrested men were identified as Tifle Naukhez, 44, and Mohammed Imran alias Raja, 42, and all three were in police remand, Singhal said.

Police have described Ahmed as the alleged mastermind of an interstate drug network and said, according to the Crime Branch, he has a history of narcotics cases, including convictions in cases involving charas, alprazolam and amphetamine, with combined sentences amounting to 45 years, and that he had been released on bail. Police have alleged the network sourced heroin through a contact in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and obtained mephedrone from Rajasthan. All allegations remain to be tested in court.