Nagpur: With Makar Sankranti fast approaching, the Crime Branch Unit 2 has intensified its efforts to curb the sale of banned nylon manja in the city. In a significant operation on Tuesday, December 3, cops apprehended a 25-year-old man and seized Nylon manja and other goods worth ₹2.7 lakh.

Acting on a tip-off, police personnel raided the public road leading from Pili Nadi to Azari Majri in Yashodhara Nagar late on December 3. The raid resulted in the arrest of Farukh Abdullah Mohammad Shakeel Ansari, a resident of Takia Diwanshah, Nagpur. A co-accused, identified only as Ashpan, a resident of Mominpura, Nagpur, remains at large.

The police recovered 60 rolls of nylon manja branded “Mono,” each valued at ₹2,000, totaling ₹1.2 lakh. Additionally, a Suzuki Access two-wheeler (MH-49-BU-7632) worth ₹70,000 and an Apple iPhone 15 Pro valued at ₹80,000 were confiscated.

A case has been registered under Sections 5 and 15 of the Environment Protection Act and Section 223 of the BNS at Yashodhara Nagar Police Station. The seized items and the accused were handed over to the station for further investigation.

Inspector Sandeep Shriram Changole of Crime Branch Unit 2 led the operation. Police have assured that efforts are underway to apprehend the absconding accused and crack down on similar illegal activities in the city.