In Bengaluru, the Karnataka High Court has criticized three police officers for wrongly accusing two students under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, despite a forensic science laboratory report proving their innocence. Justice M Nagaprasanna, upon reviewing a petition from students Hanumantha and Manjunatha, who reside in Gunjur near Varthur in the city's technology hub, expressed serious concerns about the impact of false allegations by the police on their lives. The court has ordered disciplinary action or a departmental inquiry against the involved officers - the station house officer (SHO), the officer who filed the complaint, and the investigating officer. Additionally, the court has requested a report on actions taken within 12 weeks.

The incident began on August 11, 2019, when probationary officer Raj Kumar of Varthur police station reported to his superiors that he had caught the two students allegedly consuming ganja near Krupanidhi College. A complaint was filed under Section 27 of the NDPS Act, and blood samples were taken from the students. However, the subsequent FSL report found no evidence of narcotics in their blood. Despite this, the investigating officer proceeded to file a chargesheet under the same section, leading to a special court taking cognizance of the case and summoning the students. The students maintained their innocence, claiming they were wrongly implicated and emphasizing the significant negative consequences they faced personally and professionally, such as missing out on job opportunities, even including opportunities abroad. During the court proceedings, the SHO of Varthur police station acknowledged the error in filing the chargesheet, admitting it contradicted the FSL report. Justice Nagaprasanna, after reviewing the case materials, highlighted various illegalities, including theFontAwesomeIcon: circle The judge highlighted the detrimental impact on the petitioners due to the police officers' lapses, such as not sending alleged ganja for forensic analysis, inadequate seizure records, and excluding a key witness from the chargesheet. The judge emphasized the officers' wrongdoing, noting that despite forensic lab results proving no contraband in blood samples, the police inaccurately filed a chargesheet. The judge called for a departmental inquiry into the officers' actions, stressing compliance with relevant sections of the NDPS Act and Supreme Court rulings. Emphasizing the importance of following legal procedures, the judge warned of consequences for officers not adhering to mandated protocols. The judge underscored the need to combat drug-related issues while upholding legal standards to prevent accused individuals from exploiting procedural errors.