JODHPUR, July 10 -- Two teachers from Rajasthan-one serving in a government school and the other a private tutor-have landed behind bars for allegedly using their knowledge of science to run a sophisticated synthetic drug lab producing Mephedrone (MD). The lab, busted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Jodhpur zonal unit, had already churned out over 5 kilograms of MD valued at around Rs.15 crore, officials said. "This is one of the most shocking cases we've seen recently. Both accused come from academic backgrounds and used their chemistry knowledge to operate a full-fledged illegal drug lab," said Ghanshyam Soni, Regional Director of NCB Jodhpur, on Wednesday. The arrests followed a raid by the NCB team at Flat No. 279, Dream Homes Apartments, Ridhi-Sidhi Enclave, Sri Ganganagar early Tuesday. The team recovered 780 grams of ready-to-sell MD, along with large quantities of precursor chemicals and lab equipment used in the synthesis of synthetic drugs. "The seized MD is worth approximately Rs.2.34 crore in the illegal market," Soni confirmed. An NCB official familiar with the operation said the chemicals seized include Acetone, Benzene, Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, Bromine, Methylamine, Isopropyl Alcohol, 4-Methylpropiophenone, and N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone. These are commonly used in the preparation of synthetic stimulants like MD. The accused have been identified as Manoj Bhargava (25), a science teacher at the Government Senior Secondary School in Muklawa near Raisinghnagar, and Inderjeet Bishnoi (35), a private school physics teacher from Sadhuwali who also ran coaching classes for RAS aspirants between 2014 and 2024. "Initial interrogation has revealed that the duo used to arrive at the flat every Friday evening and spend the weekend manufacturing MD. They would return to their teaching jobs on Monday as if nothing had happened," said an NCB officer involved in the investigation. Soni added, "Earlier, they used to buy ready-made MD from Delhi and sell it through local networks in Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, and Raisinghnagar. But in search of higher profits, they decided to start making it themselves." "They rented the flat two months ago and began sourcing chemicals and equipment from Delhi and other places. Being science graduates, they studied multiple sources to learn the synthesis process," said an officer familiar with the forensic analysis of the lab....