The Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Mumbai on Monday questioned senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Goa, Vasudev Parab, for more than six hours. This was in connection with the drug haul in Goa last week, one of the biggest recoveries by the department, and a huge embarrassment for the State BJP.

The factory where the recovery was made during the DRI raid belongs to Parab, BJP general secretary for North Goa district.

Through its Operation Vitamine, the DRI raided 14 residences and factories in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa last week, and seized 308 kg Ketamine, also known as the 'date rape drug'. The roots of the entire syndicate were found to be at a factory in North Goa's Pissurlem village. The factory is owned by Parab.

Sources tried to speak to Parab outside the DRI office in Mumbai after his questioning. "I had rented out the place by mistake," Parab said, before hurriedly leaving in his car. The plot in question was allotted to Parab by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation. As per rules, such plots cannot be sub-let.

Earlier on Friday, sources tried to get in touch with Parab, but he avoided meeting and spoke to on phone. "I had a fabrication business at the place The business was not making any profit. A tourist driver approached me, saying that a Canadian fellow required my place on rent. I spoke to some experts and asked whether I can lease out the place on rent, but I was told it is not allowed. So I gave it on an oral lease," Parab told us.

Parab received a monthly rent of `75,000 and told us that he never mentioned the sum in his Income Tax returns. However, despite Parab's denial, it is difficult to fathom how he was unaware of a drug business of such huge proportions running from his property.

The issue has given the Opposition enough ammunition to target the ruling BJP. It has also led to political allegations where the Congress has alleged connivance.

"It's a huge drug haul and none other than a senior leader of the BJP is under the scanner of the DRI. Either it's a case of intelligence failure of the police, or the local police were in connivance. In any case, the BJP government needs to answer," said Yatish Naik, Goa Congress spokesperson.

So far 11 people have been arrested in the case and Parab's questioning is likely to continue on Tuesday.

(Inputs from Virendrasingh Ghunawat in Mumbai/India Today TV)