Nagpur, India: An Instagram friendship has been revealed as a key factor in the Mephedrone drug manufacturing facility in Pachpaoli, Nagpur. Akash Raju Harode, with his help, manufactured the Mephedrone Drug which was uncovered in a recent raid by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

Harode, a resident of Jhenda Chowk, Shanti Nagar, allegedly used his online connections to secure a location for his illicit activities. His relationship with Nandini Nimje, whom he met on Instagram, was crucial to the plan. Initially, Harode presented himself as a photographer and offered to help Nimje with her modelling aspirations, which deepened their friendship. However, this connection took a darker turn when Harode asked Nimje for help in finding a room to produce "Rakshis."

Nimje, trusting Harode, reached out to her sister, who agreed to rent a room in her house in Pachpaoli for Rs 5,000 per month. On August 6, Harode and his associates—Sahil Sheikh, Sumit Ghonmode, and Divyanshu Chakrapani—moved into the rented space. They arrived with large quantities of chemicals and other materials, which they claimed were for manufacturing Rakshis, a traditional drink. The unsuspecting landlord did not question the presence of the bulky cans and other equipment.

Once inside, the group set up a fully operational lab to produce Mephedrone. According to sources, Harode, who had acquired his expertise in East Maharashtra, acted as the "chemist" of the group, overseeing the production process.

The DRI's investigation revealed that Harode had been on law enforcement’s radar since a previous raid by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai, where Mephedrone worth Rs 60 crore was seized. Intelligence shared by the NCB led the DRI’s Mumbai unit to trace the mobile numbers of Harode and his associates, culminating in the raid on the Pachpaoli facility.

During the raid, DRI officials seized approximately 51.95 kilograms of liquid Mephedrone, valued at an estimated Rs 78 crores, along with raw materials and specialized equipment. The operation was capable of producing over 100 kilograms of the drug, with more than 50 kilograms already prepared in liquid form, awaiting further processing into crystalline or powdered form.

The DRI’s successful operation has dealt a significant blow to the illegal drug trade in the region, and further investigations are underway to dismantle the entire network involved in the production and distribution of Mephedrone.