Deoghar: In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking, Mohanpur Police arrested two alleged brown sugar peddlers and seized 8.43 grams of the banned substance along with mobile phones reportedly used in the illegal trade. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the NDPS Act.
Addressing a press conference, SDPO Ashok Kumar Singh said the action was carried out following a secret tip-off received on May 19, 2026. Police were informed that a man was waiting near the tri-junction on the Dahijor–Letwawaran road under Mohanpur police station limits to sell brown sugar to customers.
Acting on the directions of SP Praveen Pushkar, a special raiding team was constituted under the leadership of SDPO Ashok Kumar Singh. During the operation, police caught Gautam Mahta alias Gautam Chaudhary (26) red-handed with brown sugar. He is a resident of Barmasia Circle Road under Nagar police station area in Deoghar district.
Police recovered 8.43 grams of brown sugar from his possession. Following the arrest, Mohanpur Police Station Case No. 77/26 dated May 20, 2026, was registered under relevant sections of the BNS and Section 21(b) of the NDPS Act.
During interrogation, Gautam Mahta allegedly revealed the name of the main supplier as Firoz Ansari alias Guddu, son of Jiauddin Ansari and a resident of Singhni village under Hansdiha police station area in Dumka district. Police later arrested him as well.
According to police, both accused admitted during questioning that they were involved in an organised network engaged in the purchase and sale of brown sugar across various parts of Jharkhand. Investigators are now probing the wider drug supply chain and trying to identify other people linked to the racket.
Police records also showed that Gautam Mahta has multiple criminal cases registered against him in the past, including cases related to the Arms Act, assault and theft.
The raiding team included SDPO Ashok Kumar Singh, Mohanpur police station in-charge Salo Hembrom, Baba Mandir police station officer Priyaranjan Kumar, Manendra Kumar, Mukesh Kumar Singh, technical branch personnel Riyazul Haque, Dheeraj Kumar, Prabhat Kumar and armed police personnel.