Tikamgarh: An SUV belonging to Madhya Pradesh BJP MLA Rahul Singh Lodhi allegedly hit a motorcycle near Tikamgarh on Monday, killing three persons, police said citing eye-witnesses.

It is not yet clear whether Lodhi, nephew of former Union minister Uma Bharti, was present inside the vehicle at the time of the accident which occurred around 3 pm on Tikamgarh-Chhatarpur road near Papawani village, around 15 kmss from the district headquarters.

Lodhi denied that his SUV was involved in the accident.

Tikamgarh Superintendent of Police (SP) Anurag Sujania confirmed that three persons were killed in the accident.

"According to eyewitnesses, the SUV of MLA Rahul Singh Lodhi hit the bike killing two persons on the spot and seriously injuring another who was riding the motorcycle," he said.

While Brijendra Ahirwar (25) and Ravi Ahirwar (23) died on the spot, Madan (23) died on way to Jhansi hospital, he said.

When asked whether the MLA was present inside the SUV at the time of the accident, the SP said it was a matter of investigation.

Lodhi, who represents Khargapur assembly seat in Tikamgarh district, said his vehicle was not involved in the accident. Lodhi claimed he was in Futer, about 20 kms from the spot of the accident. He said his driver witnessed the accident while on his way to Futer.

"I was in Futer village in my constituency and my driver was coming to pick me up. My vehicle was passing from the (Tikamgarh-Chhatarpur) road at the time of accident," he claimed.

According to the MLA, the mishap involved two auto rickshaws and the motorcycle.

"My driver informed me about the accident and I alerted local police station," Lodhi added.

According to sources in police, villagers and family members of the deceased blocked Chhatarpur-Tikamgarh road demanding registration of a case against the MLA.

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Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.

The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.

Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.

The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.

Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.

The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.