Ephedrine haul: other 2 directors of Avon Lifesciences grilled

Two directors of Avon Lifesciences Ltd were today questioned by Thane police in connection with a probe into the recovery of Rs 2,000-crore drug from the company's Solapur factory.
The US' Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has also approached Thane police after the seizure of party drug ephedrine in Solapur made headlines earlier this month.
The third director of Avon Lifesciences, Manoj Jain, has already been arrested.
Police today questioned Ajit Kamat and Rajesh Kaimal about what they knew about Jain's involvement in the racket.
Considering the alleged involvement of the international drug-baron Vicky Goswami, police were also looking into the role of a former Bollywood actress who was reportedly in a relationship with him.

However, as yet no proof of her involvement had come to light, said a police officer who is a part of the probe team.

So far Thane police have arrested seven persons in the case, including Jain and an operations manager of Avon Lifesciences factory in Solapur district of Maharashtra.
Punit Shringi, the manager, was arrested from suburban Virar on Tuesday night, while Jain (46) and Harjit Singh Gill (42), a transporter, were arrested yesterday from suburban Mahim and Navi Mumbai, respectively.
According to the police, Jain had gone abroad several times to meet Goswami with Jaymukhi and Kishore Rathod, who are wanted in the case.

The Drug Enforcement Agency of the USA approached Thane police to get information about the drug racket after it was busted, Thane police commissioner Parambir Singh had said yesterday.