Nagpur: In a late-night operation, Pachpaoli Police registered a case against a 22-year-old youth for allegedly possessing and selling banned nylon manja in Taj Nagar on Monday. The action came after officials received a tip-off from an informer about illegal stock near Mehboob Ghodewale’s stable.

Between 10.25 pm and 11.20 pm, the inspection team conducted a raid in the presence of panch witnesses and detained a suspect identified as Sheikh Farukh Sheikh Salim, a resident of Lodhipura, Ganeshpeth. A search of the plastic sacks in his possession led to the recovery of 35 spools of illegal mono-kite nylon manja, valued at ₹35,000.

Police stated that nylon manja, banned under the Environment Protection Act due to its threat to birds and humans, continues to surface before Makar Sankranti despite repeated crackdowns. The accused has been booked under Section 223 of the BNS read with Sections 5 and 15 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

The raid was executed under the directives of Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, Joint CP Navinchandra Reddy, Additional CP (North) Rajendra Dabhade, DCP Zone 3 Rahul Madane, and ACP (Lakadganj Division) Shivprasad Parve, by officers Baburao Raut, Gajanan Maind, Dyandev Bhoge, Imran Sheikh, Romesh Menewar, Gagan Yadav, Santosh Shendare, Mahendra Shelokar and PSI Preeti Thorat.