In a major development in the ₹252-crore Mumbai drug trafficking case, social media personality Orhan Awatramani, popularly known as ‘Orry’, did not appear before the Mumbai Police Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) despite being summoned for questioning on Wednesday. Orry was directed to present himself before the Gharkopar Unit at 10 am on 20 November, but instead his lawyer reached out to the police requesting more time.
According to the letter submitted, Orry is unavailable until 25 November and can only appear for questioning after that date. The ANC is currently examining the request and, for now, has not issued a second summons. Senior officers emphasised that the notice was issued strictly as part of the verification process, and “no charges have been framed against any high-profile individual so far.”
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Summons Linked to Claims Made by Main Accused Sohail ‘Lavish’ Sheikh
Police officials confirmed that the decision to summon Orry stems from statements made by Sohail Sheikh, the prime accused currently under arrest. Sheikh allegedly coordinated the drug production, supply chain and distribution network spread across multiple states.
During interrogation, Sheikh claimed that:
- He organised rave parties in India and abroad,
- These events were used as points of drug distribution,
- And certain high-profile individuals, including Orry, were present at some of these gatherings.
Investigators, however, clarified that a mere statement does not constitute evidence, and the purpose of calling Orry is to verify:
- Whether he was actually present at the locations, dates and events mentioned by Sheikh,
- Whether there is any electronic, documentary or corroborative proof supporting the allegations,
- And whether his presence at any such gathering had any material connection to the case.
Officials insisted that in any high-profile investigation, police rely heavily on call records, digital footprints, CCTV timelines and travel logs, not on accusations or name-dropping.
Case Began With a Major 2024 Seizure: Woman Arrested With MD Leads to Massive Trail
The entire case dates back to February 2024, when the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested a woman in possession of 741 grams of mephedrone (MD). Her interrogation led police to a chemical factory in Sangli, triggering one of the largest drug seizures in the state.
Upon raiding the premises, authorities recovered:
- 122.5 kg of mephedrone,
- And a substantial stock of precursor chemicals used to manufacture synthetic drugs.
The international market value of the seized drugs ran into hundreds of crores, prompting an expansive investigation. Soon, the police uncovered that the drug syndicate had its tentacles spread across:
- Maharashtra
- Gujarat
- Madhya Pradesh
- Rajasthan
- Telangana
The probe revealed a sophisticated network involving chemical units, peddlers, transporters and interstate distributors.
Link to Fugitive Drug Lord Saleem Dola; Connection to D-Company Suspected
Investigators also found links between this network and fugitive drug trafficker Saleem Dola, who is believed to operate under the shadow of the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate. According to officials, Dola has been orchestrating MD production and distribution through a chain of operatives scattered across several states.
Sohail Sheikh, who is in custody, has been identified as the primary coordinator of the network. Police allege that he handled:
- Procurement of chemical supplies,
- Coordination between factories and peddlers,
- Logistics and movement of the contraband across state lines.
Sheikh also alleged during interrogation that he organised high-end rave parties where MD was circulated. It is within this context that the names of several high-profile individuals surfaced, prompting the ANC to begin verification.
Police Clarify: No Charges Against Orry Yet, Summons Part of Standard Procedure
Senior ANC officials said that Orry’s name being mentioned in the interrogation does not imply any wrongdoing. Summoning him is a routine procedural step aimed at verifying timelines, associations and factual accuracy.
“High-profile cases often involve claims that need thorough corroboration. We act only on evidence and not on allegations,” a senior officer said.
Police are likely to issue a fresh summons once a decision is taken on the lawyer’s request. For now, the investigation continues to move forward, with the ANC verifying digital records and cross-checking the statements of all arrested individuals.
