<p>Nagpur: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday expressed concern over the alarming rise in drug-related activities on Instagram, saying the platform has transformed into a marketplace for the illicit substances.</p>.<p> Drugs were also being sold through the dark net, Fadnavis said in the state legislative council here during the ongoing winter session.</p>.<p>"Instagram has emerged as the drug marketplace where orders are being placed, payments are made through GPay and UPI and deliveries are being done," he said.</p>.<p>Decisive measures are being taken in this connection, Fadnavis said while responding to questions from legislators Mahadev Jankar, Sachin Ahir, Anil Parab and others.</p>.Activist Manoj Jarange asks Fadnavis to restrain those who speak against Marathas, reiterates quota demand.<p>He also said courier companies have been appealed to scrutinise parcels, and surprise checks equipped with modern technology were being conducted at courier offices to curb the drug trade.</p>.<p>Ahir raised the issue of a case pertaining to drug racketeer Lalit Patil and removal of Sanjiv Thakur from the post of dean of Sassoon Hospital.</p>.<p>Fadnavis assured that proper action would be taken following a thorough inquiry.</p>.<p>Patil emerged as the kingpin of a drug racket that was recently busted by the Sakinaka police in Mumbai in a two-month-long operation, which included the seizure of mephedrone worth about Rs 300 crore and a raid at a drug manufacturing unit in Nashik.</p>.<p> The case took a new turn after Patil, who was in Pune’s Yerawada prison over his role in another drug case but was admitted to the Sassoon Hospital in that city, escaped on October 2 while being taken for X-ray imaging. He was arrested in Karnataka two weeks later.</p>.Sena leader Danve urges Fadnavis to reveal names of those linked with Iqbal Mirchi.<p>Fadnavis also said the government has initiated action against 172 Nigerians involved in drug-related offenses. A detention centre has been established for Nigerian nationals engaged in such offences, he said.</p>.<p>The deputy CM further said 2,369 suspicious 'paan' shops located in the vicinity of schools and colleges in Mumbai have been removed.</p>.<p>The government has also seized 38,000 e-cigarettes and crackdown on hookah parlours is underway, he said.</p>.<p>Leader of opposition in the council Ambadas Danve raised the issue of illegal drug units operating in industries and factories which were shut.</p>.<p>Fadnavis acknowledged Danve's information and said such closed industries were under a thorough scrutiny.</p>.<p>Manufacturing of MD drug involves the use of various chemicals, the deputy CM added. </p>
<p>Nagpur: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday expressed concern over the alarming rise in drug-related activities on Instagram, saying the platform has transformed into a marketplace for the illicit substances.</p>.<p> Drugs were also being sold through the dark net, Fadnavis said in the state legislative council here during the ongoing winter session.</p>.<p>"Instagram has emerged as the drug marketplace where orders are being placed, payments are made through GPay and UPI and deliveries are being done," he said.</p>.<p>Decisive measures are being taken in this connection, Fadnavis said while responding to questions from legislators Mahadev Jankar, Sachin Ahir, Anil Parab and others.</p>.Activist Manoj Jarange asks Fadnavis to restrain those who speak against Marathas, reiterates quota demand.<p>He also said courier companies have been appealed to scrutinise parcels, and surprise checks equipped with modern technology were being conducted at courier offices to curb the drug trade.</p>.<p>Ahir raised the issue of a case pertaining to drug racketeer Lalit Patil and removal of Sanjiv Thakur from the post of dean of Sassoon Hospital.</p>.<p>Fadnavis assured that proper action would be taken following a thorough inquiry.</p>.<p>Patil emerged as the kingpin of a drug racket that was recently busted by the Sakinaka police in Mumbai in a two-month-long operation, which included the seizure of mephedrone worth about Rs 300 crore and a raid at a drug manufacturing unit in Nashik.</p>.<p> The case took a new turn after Patil, who was in Pune’s Yerawada prison over his role in another drug case but was admitted to the Sassoon Hospital in that city, escaped on October 2 while being taken for X-ray imaging. He was arrested in Karnataka two weeks later.</p>.Sena leader Danve urges Fadnavis to reveal names of those linked with Iqbal Mirchi.<p>Fadnavis also said the government has initiated action against 172 Nigerians involved in drug-related offenses. A detention centre has been established for Nigerian nationals engaged in such offences, he said.</p>.<p>The deputy CM further said 2,369 suspicious 'paan' shops located in the vicinity of schools and colleges in Mumbai have been removed.</p>.<p>The government has also seized 38,000 e-cigarettes and crackdown on hookah parlours is underway, he said.</p>.<p>Leader of opposition in the council Ambadas Danve raised the issue of illegal drug units operating in industries and factories which were shut.</p>.<p>Fadnavis acknowledged Danve's information and said such closed industries were under a thorough scrutiny.</p>.<p>Manufacturing of MD drug involves the use of various chemicals, the deputy CM added. </p>