Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 5: A 23-year-old man was arrested on Shaheed Dweep after police allegedly recovered 31 grams of ganja from his possession during routine patrolling on August 4. The recovery was made near the Sitapur Parking Area after officers intercepted the suspect upon noticing what they described as suspicious behaviour. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
According to the police report, a patrol team from Police Station Shaheed Dweep was conducting routine checks at around 12.15 pm to curb smuggling, illegal activities and other anti-social offences within its jurisdiction when it noticed a man carrying a waist bag who allegedly became visibly panicky on seeing the police vehicle. Police said the suspicious conduct prompted the team to stop and question him.
The report stated that the man failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for his behaviour. Police conducted a search of his belongings in the presence of two independent witnesses after informing him of the grounds for the search and of his option to first search the police party. The accused declined the offer and consented to the search of his person and belongings.
During the search, police allegedly recovered a white plastic packet containing dry green flowering material emitting a characteristic smell. According to the report, the substance appeared to be ganja, and the accused allegedly admitted that it was ganja. A digital weighing scale was brought to the spot, where the recovered substance was found to have a gross weight of 31 grams.
Police also seized the white plastic wrapper containing the suspected ganja, an orange-coloured iQOO mobile phone, a waist bag bearing the mark “FASHION”, and a purse containing vehicle registration documents in the name of the accused’s father. The seizure was carried out after completing the required legal formalities, and the seized contraband was sealed at the spot in the presence of the independent witnesses.
At about 1.10 pm, the accused, identified as Abinay Howlader, a resident of Ramnagar in Diglipur, was served with a notice under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for an offence punishable under Section 20(b)(ii)(A) of the NDPS Act, 1985.
Police stated that the recovery was made during routine patrolling and not on the basis of prior information. The report further stated that the legal provisions relating to prior information and personal search were not applicable in the circumstances of the case. The accused and the seized property were subsequently taken to Police Station Shaheed Dweep, where the case was registered and the seized articles were deposited in the police station malkhana after the necessary entry.
