The narcotics wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) arrested a 28-year-old college dropout for growing marijuana in his house and peddling the drug. The police have recovered 5.5 kg of marijuana worth ₹3 lakh from him.
Based on a tip-off, a team led by Assistant Commissioner of Police B.S. Mohan Kumar raided the house in HSR Layout Sector II and arrested Pradeep Thimmegowda. They found several flower pots, in the passage of his rented house on the first floor, with marijuana plants.
According to the police, Pradeep was addicted to marijuana. He had dropped out of his B.Com. course. As he was unemployed, he began to grow the plant and sell marijuana to his contacts.
As demand increased, he would also source marijuana from his contact, Govindappa in Kanakapura.
The CCB found that Pradeep had graffitti on the the wall of his house that said: ‘Don’t panic, its organic’.
When the police questioned him about this, he argued that marijuana should be made legal as it is organic and has medicinal value. He asked the police to recommend to the department concerned to make the drug legal like in some other countries.
“We have booked him under the NDPS Act and he has been remanded in judicial custody,” Mr. Mohan Kumar said.
The police have recovered two mobile phones from Pradeep, which contained the numbers of his clients as well as his sources. Efforts are on to nab them.
