Mysuru City Police invoke PIT NDPS Act for first time

Drug peddler Irfan Pasha arrested, sent to Ballari Jail

Mysore/Mysuru: In a first-of-its-kind step, the Mysuru City Police have invoked stringent provisions of the Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act, 1988, to detain drug peddlers and to put brakes on selling, storing, transporting and consuming drugs to make Mysuru a drug-free city.

Under the Act, the Cops have arrested habitual ganja peddler 32-year-old Irfan Pasha, a resident of Mandi Mohalla in city on Apr. 6 and have shifted him to Ballari Central Jail.

Addressing a press meet at her Office in Nazarbad here yesterday, City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar said that accused Irfan Pasha was involved in selling, storing and transportation of narcotic substances from the age of 19. He has 9 cases registered against him under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act from 2014 till 2025 and the Police had seized a total of 28 kgs of ganja in the nine NDPS cases. He was convicted in three of the nine cases, she added.

As Irfan is involved in regular illegal ganja activities, the City Police, in a bid to curb his illegal activities had opened a rowdy sheet on him and had registered cases under Security Act.

An undertaking in writing was also obtained from him, she said and added that Irfan Pasha, after securing conditional bail from the Court, violated the bail conditions and began to involve in illegal ganja activities.

As he disrespected the law and violated the Court orders and began taking part in selling and transporting ganja/drugs, the Mysuru City Police, for the first time invoked PIT NDPS Act against him, issued an arrest warrant, arrested him and shifted him to Ballari Central Jail, the City Top Cop said.

She further said that special drives against those accused in selling, transporting and storing narcotic substance and against drug peddlers will continue in city and stringent action under PIT NDPS Act will be initiated against them.

Public having information on sale, transporting and consuming drugs may contact ‘Vimukthi’ Helpline No: 82779-48080 and provide information to help City Police make Mysuru a drug-free city.

About PIT NDPS Act, 1988

Unlike a regular criminal case where an FIR is registered, action under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act, 1988, is a preventive measure to stop a person from committing further offences and does not require a new, separate FIR for detention.

The PIT NDPS Act, 1988 is a critical piece of Indian Legislation enacted to complement the NDPS Act, 1985.

While the 1985 Act focuses on prosecuting individuals, the 1988 Act enables the preventive detention of individuals engaged in organised, habitual or transnational drug trafficking, financing or harbouring traffickers. Property seizure under this Act is a powerful legal mechanism used to target the financial infrastructure of drug traffickers.