BERHAMPUR: An ayurvedic medicine shop owner was arrested on Tuesday in Khallikote, Ganjam, for supplying opium to the drug peddler, Rajanikant Patnaik.
On Friday, more than 8 kg of gold and Rs 75 lakh cash were seized from Patnaik's house at Khojapalli. Patnaik has accumulated properties worth Rs 32 crore, police sources said.
The medicine shop owner was identied as Kabimanyu Moharana. "Though Moharana has the license for opium business, we found that he had violated the terms and condition of the licence and supplied it to Patnaik for the illegal business," said inspector in-charge, Khallikote, Jagannath Mallick.
Moharana's involvement in illegal drug trade came to light during Patnaik's interrogation. His two-day police remand ended on Monday. "We got some vital clues about his illegal ganja trade in six districts," said a police officer.
If necessary, police will pray to court for Patnaik's and Moharana's remand once again, he said. "We have formed three teams to probe the business links, procurment and supply points of the contrabands," said SP (Ganjam) Brijesh Rai.
