On 3 November, Keshkal police stopped a silver Mahindra XUV-500 bearing registration OD-10-V-7053 on a tip and searched it.[1][2][3] The Keshkal case involved a Rajasthan youth arrested with 407 kg of ganja.[4][1][5][6] The driver identified himself during questioning as 31-year-old Deepak Kumar Mali of Nathukhedi in Pratapgarh district, Rajasthan.[1][3] Police registered a case against him under Section 20(b) of the NDPS Act and arrested him.[1][2] He was produced in court and sent to judicial remand.[1][2][5][7][3]

Officers found 78 packets wrapped in brown tape behind the driver’s seat and in the dickey.[1][2][5][8][3] Officers recovered 407 kg 910 g of ganja from the car, which police valued at Rs 2,03,95,500.[1][9][6][10][7][3] Police also found an extra number plate reading RJ-23-UB-8472 hidden in the car’s dashboard.[1][3] A Redmi mobile phone and Rs 1,100 in cash were also recovered from the accused.[1][5] Police seized the ganja, car, mobile phone and other items together worth Rs 2,18,96,600 in total.[1][2][7]

The action was part of a district drive against ganja and liquor smuggling on the orders of superintendent of police Pankaj Chandra.[1][2] Keshkal station in-charge Ritesh Mishra, sub-inspector Kanwal Singh Shori, assistant sub-inspectors Bhagat Singh Netam and Suresh Markam, head constables Ishwar Netam and Sanjay Bisen and other personnel took part.[1] Police said the smuggling network is under investigation.[1][9]

A Rajasthan youth was arrested in the Keshkal case, reported alongside the 5 November Jagdalpur actions.[10]

The seized Mahindra XUV-500 carrying the consignment had an Odisha registration number.[7] Lalluram framed the case as a Rajasthan suspect using an Odisha-registered vehicle.[7]

The Keshkal car recovery was one of two separate operations in Kanker and Keshkal through which police seized ganja worth about Rs 3.54 crore in total.[11]