Pune: Five police personnel, including a female sub-inspector dismissed in connection with the drug trafficking case involving Lalit Patil, have been reinstated into the force.

These officers had appealed their dismissal to the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal in Mumbai, which ruled in their favor, leading to their reinstatement. The officers have now been reassigned to roles at the control room and police headquarters.

The five reinstated officers include Police Sub-Inspector Mohini Avinash Dongre, along with constables Rajesh Janardan Kale, Natharam Bharat Kale, Digambar Vijay Chandanshiv, and Amit Suresh Jadhav.

They were originally dismissed from service following allegations that they aided Lalit Patil, a notorious drug trafficker, in smuggling drugs from Pune's Sassoon Hospital.

Lalit Patil’s case shook the city of Pune when it was revealed that he had been operating a drug trafficking ring from his hospital bed at Sassoon Hospital.

What caused even more outrage was the discovery that some police personnel were allegedly involved in facilitating Patil’s drug smuggling activities. In response, the police department took swift action, dismissing the officers involved in the scandal.

However, the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal's recent decision to reinstate these officers has sparked a fresh wave of controversy.

Many are questioning the implications of bringing back officers who were involved in such a high-profile and damaging case. With the officers now reinstated, it remains to be seen how this decision will affect the public's trust in the police force.

The Lalit Patil case had led to multiple shocking revelations, including the involvement of both police personnel and hospital administration in the drug racket. Several individuals had been arrested, and disciplinary actions were taken.