UDUPI: The Manipal police on Wednesday arrested a youth from Andhra Pradesh for allegedly possessing and selling ganja to students and locals in the Udupi–Manipal area. The accused, identified as Seetharam Reddy Tautha Reddy, was caught with over one kg of ganja concealed inside diaper packets at his rented house in Rajeev Nagar, Badagabettu.According to the police, while Police PSI Akshayakumari S N was on duty at the Manipal Police Station, she received credible information that ganja was being stored and sold at a house in Rajeev Nagar, 80 Badagabettu village, Udupi. Acting on the information, the police conducted a raid and detained the accused, Reddy, 21. Upon interrogation, he confessed that he and his friend Taneesh Ratna purchased narcotic substances (ganja) from Meghalaya through an online app, receiving them via postal delivery, and were allegedly selling them at high prices to students and acquaintances in Manipal and Udupi to make money.As shown by the accused, a search was conducted under his bed, where two parcel plastic covers were found. Inside the parcels were diapers, and hidden among them were three air zip bags containing over 1 kg of ganja. Another air zip cover in the parcel contained two paper-wrapped packets of ganja and two empty air zip covers. Additionally, two bongs used for smoking ganja were found on the table in the corner of the room. On the bed’s mobile stand, the accused’s iPhone and a wallet containing Rs 3,180 in cash were recovered. The accused allegedly stored the ganja with the intent to sell it at higher prices.A case has been registered at the Manipal Police Station for offences punishable under Sections 8(C) and 20(b)(ii)(b) of the NDPS Act.
