Gangster Vishal Gupta Arrested After 1,900-Km Chase
Nagpur's Vishal Gupta, linked to a drug network, captured in Tamil Nadu after a lengthy police pursuit.
Vishal Gupta, a notorious gangster, was arrested in Rameswaram after a 1,900-km chase.
He is linked to multiple serious crimes, including murder and drug trafficking.
Police seized significant quantities of drugs and cash during recent operations.
Vishal Gupta, also known as Phalli, was apprehended by law enforcement in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, following a dramatic 1,900-kilometer chase. The 25-year-old is a suspect in an interstate drug trafficking network involving mephedrone and is also connected to a shooting incident that occurred on August 26 outside the home of Congress corporator Shubham Motghare in Nagpur's Shrawan Nagar. Gupta had been evading capture for two months before his arrest on Saturday, along with his girlfriend, Sahali Pandhram.
Gupta's criminal history is extensive, with around 15 cases filed against him, including serious charges such as murder, attempted murder, and assault. His criminal activities reportedly escalated after his family relocated from Uttar Pradesh to Nagpur two decades ago. Initially selling peanuts with his father, Gupta's involvement in organized crime deepened over the years, leading to multiple murder cases and a significant expansion of his drug operations.
The police's investigation into Gupta intensified following the August shooting incident, which was believed to be motivated by a dispute over his connections to drug dealers. On October 24, a breakthrough occurred when a crime branch team, led by senior inspector Vinayak Golhe, executed a raid in Narendra Nagar. This operation resulted in the arrest of five individuals and the seizure of over 1.4 kilograms of mephedrone, cash amounting to Rs 3.44 lakh, and various vehicles, totaling an estimated value of Rs 1.54 crore.
Authorities allege that Gupta orchestrated drug shipments from a concealed location, facilitating transactions through his network. Investigators suspect that the drugs were transported from Rajasthan via Ujjain before reaching Nagpur's street dealers. Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil emphasized the importance of understanding the network's connections, stating that Gupta's arrest could lead to further charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Looking ahead, police officials, including Joint Commissioner Navinchandra Reddy, have indicated that they will target other individuals involved in Gupta's drug distribution network. Reddy noted that several prominent criminals in Nagpur were reportedly receiving mephedrone from Gupta, and efforts will be made to dismantle this broader operation.
