Durg–Bhilai police say their probe into an organised network that stole scrap from Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) has uncovered property and jewellery bought with proceeds from the thefts, and the case has widened after key arrests. Three suspects whose seven-day police remand ended on Monday were produced in court and sent to judicial custody, officials said.

The operation dates to a raid on May 26, when officers acting on a tip-off searched AK Traders in Hathkhoj area of Bhilai and found large consignments of suspicious scrap loaded in trucks and hiwas — heavy iron plates, beam cuttings and other industrial scrap that matched materials missing from BSP, police said. Subsequent searches led to the seizure of about 250 tonnes of scrap; police estimate its market value at roughly Rs 90 lakh and put the total assets seized, including vehicles and machinery, at about Rs 3.22 crore.

Interrogation of the main accused, identified as Sanjay Singh, reportedly revealed that the illicit proceeds were invested in land, houses and gold and silver jewellery. A locker belonging to the alleged mastermind was searched and jewellery worth about Rs 50 lakh and documents linked to property worth nearly Rs 3 crore were recovered, police said.

Investigators told reporters they reconstructed the scene by taking suspects to the route from Khursipar Gate to SMS‑3, where scrap had been consolidated and loaded for transport. During the exercise officers also seized vehicles fitted with fake number plates, which were allegedly used to move the stolen material to the market, the statement said.

The case has already produced a growing list of arrests. Police had previously arrested nine suspects and sent them to jail; Sanjay Singh was arrested later from Deoria in Uttar Pradesh after a targeted search and was handed a seven‑day remand on June 16. Further questioning led to the arrests of Amit Sharma (aka Kailash Sharma) and Aakash Kumar Singh, police said. In all, authorities say 12 accused have now been detained in connection with the ring.

Durg district police said they are now mapping the accused’s investments — bank accounts, land records and properties — and preparing seizure (attachment) orders where appropriate. “We are scrutinising financial trails to recover proceeds of crime and will take legal steps to attach illicitly acquired assets,” an officer said.

Why it matters: the operation exposed how organised theft at an industrial plant can be converted quickly into legitimate‑looking assets, widening the harm beyond the immediate loss of material. Large-scale scrap theft from manufacturing hubs can disrupt supply chains, damage plant operations and create a market for crime proceeds that corrupts local trade.

What police will do next: officers said forensic accounting of seized assets and ongoing interrogation aim to trace the full network, identify buyers of stolen scrap and determine whether any plant insiders were complicit. The probe will determine whether further property attachments and criminal charges — including for organised theft, fraud and use of forged documents — are warranted.

Bhind Ganja Smuggling Ring Runs Like a Company; B-Team Takes Over After A-Team Bust

Police in Bhind have uncovered the second layer of a well-organised inter-state ganja smuggling network operating on a corporate-style model with clearly defined roles, profit-sharing, and even a dedicated fund for legal aid. In a joint operation by Barohi and Dehat police stations, two members of the so-called B-Team were arrested late on Tuesday with 138 kg of ganja valued at around ₹28 lakh.

The arrests have once again highlighted how the gang quickly adapted after its first team was dismantled in December last year. Officials say the network treated smuggling like a business enterprise, complete with managers, financiers, storekeepers, and suppliers.

A-Team Dismantled in December Raid

The story began in December when Barohi police, led by Station House Officer Atul Bhadauria, intercepted a suspicious Hyundai car near Madanpura Dam. The driver tried to flee through a kutcha road but was chased and caught. A search yielded 22.2 kg of ganja.

Those arrested included Rajendra Baghel of BTI Road, Bhind, Pankaj Shukla of Barohi, and Rajkumar Sharma from Surpura. Pankaj Shukla was believed to be running the operation using a structured “company model”. Another key member, Majnu alias Shivam Sharma from Aryanagar, managed to escape initially but was later arrested after a few months.

B-Team Activated to Keep Business Running

With the main operatives behind bars, Majnu, who had been on the run, reportedly activated the backup B-Team to ensure the trade did not stop. Sources familiar with the investigation said he brought in new people and assigned specific responsibilities to minimise risk and maintain continuity.

Anup Sharma alias Anna was roped in as the financier. According to preliminary questioning, the financier was to get nearly 50 percent of the profits and was also responsible for arranging bail if any member was caught. A separate budget was maintained from each consignment for legal expenses, including efforts to secure bail for those already in jail.

Rishabh Chauhan was tasked with arranging vehicles, while others handled storage and new supplier contacts. The gang shifted to greater caution this time, using luxury cars in a convoy system and code words such as “maal” or “jadi-buti” during communication.

New Hideout and Sophisticated Tactics

Investigators revealed that the B-Team set up a fresh storage point in Kumhroua area. Abhishek Tiwari of Aryanagar was given charge of the “godown”. He allegedly rented a relative’s house for ₹10,000 per month and, with help from Anshul Bouhre, used it to store the contraband.

The gang sourced ganja from Odisha, where it was procured at around ₹5,000 per kg. It was then sold to agents in Bhind and nearby areas at up to ₹20,000 per kg, reaching ₹25,000 in retail. Police said suppliers from Odisha sometimes ensured safe delivery up to the Chhattisgarh border.

To avoid detection on the road, the gang used a “follow car” system. One vehicle with 3-4 members would travel 2-3 km ahead to scout for police presence and relay information to the carrier vehicle behind it.

Latest Seizure and Ongoing Hunt

In the latest action, police arrested Abhishek Tiwari and Anshul Bouhre. The 138 kg ganja recovered is believed to be part of a larger 200 kg consignment, of which around 40 kg had already been sold. Interrogation has provided fresh leads on the wider network.

Barohi SHO Atul Bhadauria confirmed that the arrested duo belongs to the B-Team of the same gang busted earlier. “Their questioning has opened several links of the network. We have identified four members of the B-Team so far,” he said.

Those still absconding include financier Anup Sharma alias Anna, Mangu, and Rishabh Chauhan. Police teams are actively searching for them.

Impact on Local Drug Trade

This structured operation allowed the gang to run the illegal trade with minimal disruption even after major arrests. By dividing roles and creating contingency plans, including financial provisions for legal battles, the network tried to function like any legitimate business with risk management.

Local authorities noted that such organised models make enforcement challenging as new layers quickly replace arrested members. The seizures, however, have dealt a significant blow to the supply chain in the region.

Police said further investigation is underway to trace the money trail, more hideouts, and upstream suppliers in Odisha. Cases under the NDPS Act have been registered, and efforts are on to dismantle the remaining links of both A and B teams.

The development comes at a time when authorities in Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states continue to step up vigil against the inflow of ganja from eastern regions.