Bhiwapur: In a significant crackdown on illegal sand mining, the Bhiwapur Police have arrested five individuals and seized five tippers transporting unlawfully extracted sand. The total value of the seized sand and vehicles amounts to ₹81.55 lakh.

The arrested suspects are Mohammad Minhaz Khan (32), Mohammad Israil Akbar Khan (32), Sachin Annaji Mandavkar (40), Moin Jaleel Khan (25), and Mohammad Saklain Nawazuddin Khan (22), all residents of Kharbi. The authorities confiscated five tippers with registration numbers MH-49/AT-7222, MH-49/AT-8012, MH-33/T-2333, MH-40/CT-7222, and MH-49/AT-5028, worth ₹80 lakh, along with 31 brass of sand valued at ₹1.55 lakh.

The operation was led by API Jaiprakash Nirmal, along with PSO Bhiwapur and his team, including ASI Kishor Thakur, HC Rakesh Tripathi, and PC Preetam Khope. Acting on a tip-off, they intercepted the tippers at Thutanbori. When the drivers failed to present the necessary royalty receipts, the police detained them and seized the vehicles.

A case has been registered under Sections 303(2), 49, 3(5), 48(7), and 48(8) of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, along with Sections 4 and 11 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, against the accused.