Vadodara: An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) from the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the city police has been arrested in connection with a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS) case involving heroin worth nearly Rs 48 lakh. The State Monitoring Cell (SMC) on Saturday arrested ASI Laxmikant Desai (57) after investigations revealed his alleged links with a drug peddler caught earlier this month.

The case came to light on January 9, when the SMC arrested Amarsingh alias Sonu Malhi, a resident of Chhani, from Vadodara Railway Station with 239.940 grams of heroin. During the probe, officials found ASI Desai’s contact number in the accused’s phone. Further analysis revealed that Desai was in constant telephonic communication with the accused, with nearly 125 calls exchanged over the past year. Investigators suspect that the ASI allegedly shared information about police movements with the drug trafficker. The arrest has raised serious questions about integrity within the force as the investigation continues. DeshGujarat