Ganja worth Rs 6.5 lakh seized from abandoned tempo in Thane

The police in Thane city have seized ganja worth Rs 652 lakh from an abandoned tempo reported news agency PTI The incident took place on March 15 when some police personnel noticed an unattended vehicle on the RetibunderShilphata Road in ThaneAccording to an officer from Mumbra Police Station the cops became suspicious upon spotting the tempo parked on the side of the road without any sign of the driver or owner Upon inspecting the vehicle they discovered a large quantity of ganja hidden inside estimated to be worth Rs 652 lakhAs per PTI the police immediately seized the vehicle and the contraband The authorities have launched an investigation to identify the owner and driver of the tempo Police believe that the seized ganja was being illegally transported and efforts are underway to trace the individuals involved in the smuggling operationA case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act the police confirmed Under this act the possession transport and sale of narcotic substances are strictly prohibited and punishable by lawPTI reports that the police are now focusing on dismantling the larger drug network operating in the region We are working to identify the source of the ganja and the intended destination This appears to be part of a larger drug supply chain operating in Thane and adjoining areas the official statedDrug addiction a quasi pandemic strict compliance with rules needed during arrest Bombay High CourtDrug trafficking is a serious crime and drug addiction is a quasi pandemic theBombay High Courthas said stressing the need for authorities to scrupulously follow the mandated rules while arresting a person and during recovery procedurePeople dealing in drugs in the society need to be dealt with an iron fist but it cannot be at the cost of liberty of an individual a single bench of Justice Milind Jadhav said in an order passed recentlyThe court made the remarks while granting bail to four persons arrested in 2023 for alleged possession of medicinal drugs under provisions of theNarcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS ActThe accused while seeking bail raised procedural irregularities by authorities when they were arrested and also while carrying out search of their residential premisesThe bench in its order said the prosecuting agency has to strictly follow the procedure laid down in law during recovery procedureThis is because the liberty of an accused is too precious of a right to be taken away on the basis of flimsyarbitrary procedure the Bombay High Court said reported PTIThe bench said the case has got it thinking deeply of the repercussions of drug abuse which is a result itssmugglers peddlers traffickersDrug trafficking is a serious crime and the menace of drug traffickers is prevalent not just in India but across the globe I will not be wrong to describe that drug psychotropic addiction is a quasi pandemic the judge said reported PTIThe miscreants dealing in drugs in society need to be dealt with an iron fist but it cannot be at the cost of liberty of an individual the Bombay High Court said reported PTIAs per the bail plea all the accused were medical representatives working withpharmaceutical companiesAdvocate Ayaz Khan appearing for the accused persons submitted that they have been in custody for more than a year now and have no criminal antecedentsThe bench said that to strike a delicate balance between the interest of the nation on one hand and rights of the accused on the other it is the duty of the investigation officer to ensure strict compliance of procedure reported PTIThe court also noted that the accused persons are medical representatives who are not likely to repeat the offence if released on bailJustice Jadhav said while he vocalises the need for investigation authorities to follow the procedure under theNDPS Actscrupulously he was equally aware of the difficulties faced by prosecutors who on a daily basis venture on an insurmountable task of defending the noncompliance by authorities reported PTIThe purpose of courts is to secure the rights of citizens and hence they should not mechanically reject bail pleas just to back the cause of national importance and international prevalence he said reported PTIThe bench referred to a 2024 communication issued by theUnion Ministry of Home Affairsto all state governments in respect of the Model FIR in registration of cases under the NDPS Act and associate relevant documentsThe HC directed for a copy of its order to be forwarded to all commissioners of policesuperintendents of police in each district of the state for implementing provisions of the NDPS Act and rules strictly through the investigation agencies authorised under the NDPS ActWe as a system also need to invest our resources on educating our statutory officers so as to enable them to discharge their wide powers withlegal prudenceand in accordance with the statute Rules as prescribed the judge said reported PTIIf laws and rules are strictly implemented and followed leaving no room for doubt or vitiation of procedure then to a certain extent it may help in achieving a drug free society the court said