'MDMA in courier'; Award-winning scientist at Virology Institute arrested in Kochi

KOCHI: A scientist from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Alappuzha was arrested with a chemical drug in a courier. Technical Officer Prasad Sarkale (39), a native of Pune Haveli, Maharashtra, was arrested by the Kochi DANSAF team with 3,630 MDMA. He was part of the scientific team formed by NIV to develop India's own Covid vaccine.

He was taken into custody on Saturday evening while returning from a courier company near Cheranallur Signal Junction in Ernakulam after receiving a parcel. The parcel was delivered to the courier company's main office in Cheranallur, Alappuzha. He went to the office directly to avoid a two-day delay in reaching the address. The employees of the courier company who became suspicious informed the police.

Prasad Sarkale, an NIV officer for 12 years, has won several awards for his outstanding performance in the technical department. He also received awards related to the development of the vaccine. The police confirmed that he had delivered the MDMA through a courier for his own needs. He has been addicted to the drug for a long time. The Cheranallur police said that they had informed the NIV authorities about the arrest. Sarkale was produced in court and remanded.