Police Seize Properties Worth Rs 3 Cr from Notorious Weed Smuggler in Puri

Puri: Authorities in Odisha’s Puri district have recently made a significant breakthrough by confiscating properties worth over Rs 3 crore from a notorious ganja smuggler. Following the arrest of Bijay Pani and his son Satrujit, also known as Pintu, on May 3 for their involvement in ganja smuggling, the police and Special Task Force (STF) launched a thorough investigation into their activities.

Subsequently, the authorities discovered a staggering 624 kg of ganja, valued at approximately Rs 60 lakh, along with four homemade bombs during a raid on their residence.

Following the arrests, law enforcement officials delved into the financial transactions and properties associated with the father and son duo. The investigation revealed that they had amassed a significant number of illegally obtained assets. Acting on this information, a team led by Puri Sadar SDPO KC Mund, comprising three Inspectors-in-Charge (IICs), six Sub-Inspectors (SIs), eight Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs), and a platoon of police personnel under the supervision of Additional SP Mihir Panda, conducted multiple raids at various locations.

These intensive raids unveiled the ganja smugglers’ ownership of numerous plots and buildings situated across different areas. Specifically, nine plots in Puri town, four buildings in various locations, two high-value cars, and a motorcycle were discovered to be registered under their names.

Puri SP K Vishal Singh revealed in a statement to the media on Sunday that, following the necessary permissions obtained from the Kolkata-based Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act (SAFEMA) authorities, the police successfully seized these illicitly acquired properties.