Bengaluru: As the govt gets tough on drugs by introducing key anti-drug campaigns, Operation RISE (Refuse, Inform, Support, Empower)’ and Beda Bro (Let’s Refuse, Bro), conviction rates under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act paint a less encouraging picture.State police data shows a decline in convictions of cases booked under the NDPS Act in 2024 and 2025 compared to 2023. In 2023, there were 4,148 convictions, which dipped to 2,078 and 2,600 cases in 2024 and 2025, respectively. In the first five months of this year, 730 convictions were reported. According to officials, lapses in seizing the contraband materials and insufficient knowledge in taking forward the case through court trial are affecting the convictions.The shortcomings in investigation are reflected in two NDPS Act cases that ended in acquittals despite police claims of recovering narcotics from the accused.In the first case, city police arrested Mohammad Ali Tojai of HBR Layout on Oct 26, 2020, on allegations of drug peddling. Sleuths from the Central Crime Branch (CCB) raided his residence in KG Halli and claimed to have seized 100 ecstasy tablets. According to the chargesheet, the tablets had been delivered to him through a postal parcel. However, after a trial spanning nearly five-and-a-half years, a city court acquitted Ali in April this year, holding that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges.In another case, Sarthak Arya of Agara was arrested by HSR Layout police on Oct 23, 2020, after officers allegedly found him in possession of LSD strips. In Nov last year, the trial court acquitted him as well, observing that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt.Both cases point to similar investigative lapses that ultimately weakened the prosecution’s case.Improper personal search: Under the NDPS Act, the personal search of a suspect is required to be conducted in the presence of a magistrate or a gazetted officer. In both cases, however, police conducted the frisking themselves without securing the presence of either, raising questions about compliance with mandatory legal safeguards.Defective documentation: The “information book”—the official record documenting prior information, the raid and the seizure—is expected to be maintained as a bound register. Instead, investigating officers relied on loose sheets of paper, a procedural irregularity that undermined the credibility of the records produced before the court.Questionable record-keeping: The courts also noted deficiencies in the handling and maintenance of these loose-sheet records, casting further doubt on the authenticity.“These procedural lapses often lead to the acquittal of alleged drug peddlers,” said advocate Srinivasa Rao. “Many cases fail because mandatory procedures relating to search, seizure, arrest, sampling and forensic examination are not followed. Prosecutions also collapse when legally admissible, reliable and consistent evidence is not placed before the court.”“Courts have consistently held that compliance with the NDPS Act’s procedural safeguards is mandatory. Any major deviation can weaken the prosecution’s case,” he said. “A conviction cannot stand unless the prosecution proves the accused’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt while following the procedure prescribed by law.”According to additional director-general of police (law and order) R Hitendra, lapses in seizing the contraband materials and insufficient knowledge in taking forward the case through court trial are affecting the conviction rates. “Cases are ending on good convictions where consumers were booked under NDPS Act for consuming drugs. But when it comes to cases against peddlers, the conviction rate is low. This is mainly because the investigators are not reaching the root of the peddlers. Further, there are technical lapses in booking cases,” he said.BOX: All-Encompassing Fight Against Drugs: Kharge“The fight against drugs has to be waged on two fronts — cutting off the supply and reducing the demand,” home minister Priyank Kharge said. “Our focus will be on intelligence-led enforcement, strengthening NDPS investigations, improving forensic and judicial support, and ensuring better coordination among agencies. We will expand testing and rehabilitation facilities at the district level, strengthen policy measures and step up public awareness campaigns.”According to him, the fight against drugs cannot be won through police action alone. “It requires a whole-of-govt and whole-of-society approach. We are bringing together 11 departments and all key stakeholders under a single framework. The aim is to disrupt the supply chain, curb demand and dismantle the financial networks that sustain the narcotics trade,” Kharge said.QuoteDirector-general and inspector-general of police MA SaleemMiscreants are adopting new methods to supply the drugs to cities like Bengaluru and Mangaluru. Intelligence gathering is important here. Drugs are flowing into our state from other states and foreign countries. For some time, we have controlled inflow of drugs through parcels or couriers. This made the suspects to smuggle drugs from other cities of the country like DelhiBOX: Drug SeizuresTotal value – Rs 216.93 cr (2025), Rs 184.72 cr (till May 2026)Accused booked – 9,064 (2025), 6,651 (till May 2026)Peddlers apprehended – 2,611 (2025), 1,406 (till May 2026)Consumers booked – 6,455 (2025), 5,090 (till May 2026)Manufacturers apprehended – 41 (2025), 17 (till May 2026)
