Rajkot: Surendranagar police concluded that a man arrested after 7.8kg of cannabis was found on his farm in Sayla was allegedly framed by two people over an old financial dispute.Police arrested Arjan alias Bhuva Shiyal, 33, and Devji Meer, 48, for allegedly conspiring to frame Gopal Sabhani, a resident of Karshanpara in Sayla. After police reported that Sabhani was not involved, a court ordered his release from jail.Surendranagar superintendent of police Premsukh Delu said police had recovered 7.8kg of dried cannabis, worth at Rs 3.94 lakh, from Sabhani’s farm on Muli Road on Aug 19. Sabhani was arrested, and an FIR was registered at Sayla police station under the NDPS Act.Inconsistencies emerged during his interrogation, raising suspicions that the contraband had been planted. The investigation was subsequently handed over to Limbdi DySP V M Rabari.From CCTV footage, technical surveillance and human intelligence, Rabari’s team allegedly traced the conspiracy to Shiyal and Meer, both of whom had an old dispute with Sabhani.According to police, Shiyal procured the cannabis from Maharashtra through Meer. He then travelled to Sabhani’s farm at night on a motorcycle with another person and planted the contraband there. Shiyal later tipped off police, triggering the raid and Sabhani’s arrest, investigators said.Police have obtained custody of Shiyal and Meer. They are also investigating if others participated in the alleged conspiracy.After finding no evidence of Sabhani’s involvement, police submitted a report before the court under Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The court then ordered his release from jail.
