NAVI MUMBAI, May 23 -- In a dramatic early morning crash on Palm Beach Road, a 38-year-old Rajasthan man allegedly abandoned his SUV and fled after crashing into multiple roadside structures, leaving behind nearly 70kg of suspected opium-poppy pods worth close to Rs.70 lakh and a country-made pistol with live cartridges, police said on Thursday. The accused has been identified as Ganpat Birbal Ram, a resident of Osian in Rajasthan's Jodhpur district, based on a driving licence recovered from the vehicle. He is currently absconding. According to the NRI Coastal police, the incident took place around 4.21 am near Akshar Signal while the accused was driving an MG Hector SUV from CBD Belapur towards Vashi at high speed. "The driver appears to have lost control of the vehicle, possibly due to brake failure. After the crash, he abandoned the SUV and escaped from the spot. During inspection of the vehicle, narcotic substances and a firearm were recovered," an investigating officer said. Police said the SUV first rammed into a parked Honda Activa scooter before smashing into roadside barricades, iron safety railings and a CCTV signal pole, causing extensive damage to public property estimated at Rs.3.03 lakh. A subsequent search of the abandoned vehicle led to the recovery of five plastic sacks containing 69.95 kg of dried light-brown fragments suspected to be opium-poppy pods. Investigators estimate the seized contraband to be worth around Rs.69.95 lakh in the illegal market. Officers also recovered a country-made pistol and six live 7.65 mm cartridges valued at around Rs.95,000. The total value of the seized property, including the SUV, is estimated at Rs.90.89 lakh. An FIR has been registered under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Arms Act, BNS, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and the Motor Vehicles Act....