MHA pulls up state police, govt over handling of NDPS cases

Bengaluru: The Union Home Ministry (MHA) has come down heavily on the Karnataka police and the state government for their handling of NDPS cases, especially in Bengaluru, a highly placed source in the MHA told DH.

The issue came up during an all-states' meeting held on May 15, attended by representatives from all state and Union Territory police forces, along with central agencies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

The ministry flagged an alarming drop in NDPS cases, pointing to an 80% decrease in Bengaluru and a 48% drop across Karnataka in 2024. 

DH has confirmed the development through multiple sources and reviewed a document recording the concerns raised by the ministry. State police officials reportedly faced a 15-minute dressing down during the meeting, the source added.

The ministry also pulled up the state government for delaying the formation of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), announced last year, but still pending implementation. It criticised Karnataka for being one of the few states without a dedicated anti-drug wing and instructed the government to expedite the process.

Further, the ministry suggested that Karnataka model its task force on those in states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The matter is yet to be taken up formally within the Karnataka Home Department.

The Union Home Ministry is particularly concerned about Bengaluru and has sought an explanation from the state police over the sharp decline in cases.

Policy shift by B'luru police 

On May 19, DH reported that NDPS cases in the city had dropped following a policy shift by the Bengaluru police, under which drug consumers were no longer booked, but treated as victims.

A retired IPS officer, with extensive experience in narcotics cases, criticised the move, calling it an invitation for drug use.

"This approach creates problems — it hampers efforts to identify drug sources, trace the types of drugs in circulation, and catch consumers who double as peddlers,” he said.

However, the Bengaluru police argue that the strategy helps them focus on habitual peddlers and major players in the drug trade.