Gurugram | The Gurugram Police has arrested a former pilot over alleged possession of a narcotic substance and recovered contraband worth over Rs 35 lakh in the illicit market, an official said on Wednesday.

According to police, 814 grams of MDMA -- an illicit psychoactive substance commonly known as ecstasy --was recovered from the accused.

The accused, identified as Arshad Ali alias Ajju (33) -- a resident of Kerala's Kozhikode district, and residing at a residential society in Daulatabad here -- was apprehended on Wednesday near Sector-103 by the Crime Branch.

A search revealed he was in possession of 814 grams of MDMA, police said.

Subsequently, a case was registered in this connection at Rajendra Park police station under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, they added.

During interrogation, it was revealed that the accused holds an air pilot license and earlier worked as a pilot with a private airline, but is currently not employed at any airline company, a senior police official said.

"He had procured the recovered MDMA from one of his associates in Noida for Rs 5 lakh, with the understanding that the remaining payment would be made according to the sale of the MDMA," the officer said.

Initially, the accused used to purchase the narcotic substance for his own consumption, but later started selling it for financial gain, the officer said, adding that he is being questioned.