In Bengaluru, the Karnataka High Court has criticized three police officers for wrongfully charging two students under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, despite evidence from a forensic science laboratory (FSL) proving their innocence. Justice M Nagaprasanna, presiding over a petition from students Hanumantha and Manjunatha, who reside in Gunjur near Varthur, expressed concerns about the negative impact of false accusations made by the police on their lives. The court directed disciplinary action or a departmental inquiry against the station house officer (SHO), the officer who filed the complaint, and the investigating officer, while also requesting a report on actions taken within 12 weeks. The incident occurred on August 11, 2019, when probationary officer Raj Kumar from Varthur police station reported apprehending the two students near Krupanidhi College for alleged ganja consumption. Despite a subsequent FSL report showing no presence of narcotics in their blood samples, the investigating officer proceeded to file charges under the NDPS Act, resulting in a special court issuing summons to the students. The students argued that they were framed, leading to significant personal and professional repercussions, including missed job opportunities. The SHO admitted in court that there was a mistake in filing the chargesheet, contradicting the FSL report. Justice Nagaprasanna identified various illegalities in the case after reviewing the evidence.The judge highlighted that the petitioners continue to suffer due to the negligence of three officers - who did not send the alleged 15 grams of ganja for forensic analysis, failed to maintain proper seizure records, and omitted a key witness from the chargesheet. The judge noted the malicious intent evident in the case. Despite forensic evidence showing no contraband in the blood samples, the police falsely claimed otherwise in the chargesheet. The judge directed a disciplinary inquiry against the responsible officers and mandated adherence to specific sections of the NDPS Act and relevant legal precedents. Emphasizing the need to combat drug-related issues through proper legal procedures, the judge warned that any procedural breaches could result in the dismissal of charges against the accused.