An assistant inspector of police was arrested on Saturday in connection the Provogue drug case.

Assistant Police Inspector Sanjay Shindhe, attatched to the Mumbai domestic airport police station, is alleged to have swapped cocaine with talcum powder in order to protect the accused.

On January 26, 2005, officials at the domestic airport at Santa Cruz detected a parcel of cocaine, which was to be sent to Vishal Meghnani in Chennai. Meghnani holds an important post in Provogue.

• Earlier story: Provogue owner questioned in drug case

The cocaine was concealed in three small bottles, but Shinde, whose team seized the bottles, is alleged to have replaced the cocaine with talcum powder.

When senior officers got suspicious, they sent the bottles to forensic experts in Kalina, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Experts found traces of cocaine inside the bottles, proving that they did contain cocaine before being filled with talcum powder later.

The police claim that investigations pointed to Shinde.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Chandrakant Pawaskar confirmed that Shinde is suspected of having made the switch and has been arrested.

Sources add there are chances that police may take Provogue owner Salil Chaturvedi in custody.