Udupi: Fourth accused arrested in Manipal ganja, LSD racket

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Feb 12, 2026: Manipal police have arrested the fourth accused in a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act involving the sale of ganja and LSD. The accused has been identified as Mohammed Ajmal (26), a native of Malappuram district in Kerala, who was staying in an apartment in Manipal and had been absconding.

Police said Ajmal was arrested recently for allegedly selling ganja near the Manipal Syndicate Circle. From his possession, the police seized 2,084 grams of ganja, estimated to be worth around ₹1 lakh. He was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.

Police also detained five persons to whom Ajmal had allegedly supplied ganja. It was confirmed that they had consumed the substance, following which separate cases were registered against them at the Manipal police station. Further investigation is under way.

The case was initially registered on August 16, 2025, under Sections 8(c), 20(b) and 22(b) of the NDPS Act, based on credible information that ganja was being sold from a room on the road leading to the Narasinga Temple at Eshwar Nagar in Herga village.

Acting on the tip-off, the inspector and his team raided the premises and found two persons in possession of substances suspected to be ganja. The accused were identified as Afshin and Shivanidhi Acharya, who allegedly admitted to selling ganja and LSD for personal gain.

Another accused, Manish (34), son of Manian, a native of Kasaragod district in Kerala and residing in an apartment in Udupi, was arrested on August 17, 2025, and later produced before the court.