Mumbai: Former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni, wanted in an Ephedrine haul case by law enforcement agencies in India, reportedly escaped to Dubai soon after her husband, the alleged drug supplier, Vicky Goswami was held by the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) from Kenya in February this year, said sources.
The duo is wanted by Thane police in an alleged Rs 2,000-crore international Ephedrine supply racket. Ephedrine is a chemical used to manufacture narcotics. Recently, a special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act court declared Kulkarni and Goswami proclaimed offender are ordered to attach their properties.
According to an Indian Express’ report, DEA officers arrested Goswami and three others from a golf course in Kenya in February, as the quartet met to resolve a dispute.
As per the sources, Goswami, in January had an argument with Ibrahim and Baktash Akasha, with whom, he had dealings in the drug business. A Pakistani drug dealer named Ghulam Hussein was also present when the two parties allegedly killed one another’s, bodyguards. The four of them later decided to meet to bury the hatchet.
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“The DEA laid a trap to arrest Goswami from Kenya. Kulkarni was also present at the spot. But while the agency took Goswami and the other three into their custody, they did not apprehend Kulkarni,” said a Thane police officer.
“After Goswami’s arrest, she fled to Dubai,” he said, adding investigators believe Kulkarni was no longer in Dubai and might have fled from the UAE.
“Goswami is wanted by the Thane police. However, he is currently in the custody of the DEA and is charged with an offence that attracts a minimum punishment of 20 years. In this scenario, it looks highly unlikely he would be brought to book by Indian agencies,” the official said.
On their chances of getting Kulkarni, the official indicated it could be a long wait. “She has already been declared a proclaimed offender and Thane police will soon start the process of issuing a Red Corner Notice against her,” the official added.
Thane crime branch had raided Solapur-based company Avon Lifesciences and seized around 18.5 tonnes of ephedrine worth Rs 2,000 crore in the international market, last year. The police probe had revealed the seized substance was to be used to make methamphetamine, a party drug and was being diverted to a Kenya-based drug cartel headed by Goswami.