106 kg ganja seized in Puttur; two arrested
Puttur: Puttur Rural Police have arrested two persons and seized 106 kg of ganja that was being transported in two vehicles, police said.
The accused have been identified as Rafiq P. (37) and Abdul Sadiq (37), both residents of Charmadi village in Belthangady taluk.
Based on specific information about ganja being transported in a car and a goods vehicle, police conducted vehicle checks at Sajankadi in Paduvannuru village on the evening of January 19. During the inspection, police found ganja leaves, flowers and seeds weighing about 100 grams in a plastic cover inside the car driven by Rafiq.
On inspecting the goods vehicle driven by Sadiq, police recovered 73 bundles of ganja weighing a total of 106 kg and 60 grams. The total value of the seized contraband is estimated at ₹53.03 lakh, police said.
During questioning, the accused allegedly admitted that the ganja was being transported for sale in Kerala, Mangaluru and other parts of Dakshina Kannada district. Police seized both vehicles used for transportation and two mobile phones from the accused.
A case has been registered at Puttur Rural Police Station under Sections 8(c) (prohibits the production) and 20(b)(ii)(C) (commercial quantity) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Further investigation is under way.
The operation was carried out by a team led by Police Sub-Inspector Gunapala J., along with staff members Harish, Harshit, Prashanth, Adrama, Prashanth Rai, Praveen Rai, Bhavit Rai, Nagaraj, Satish, Ramesh, Subramani and Vinod.
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Udupi: Woman, bank employee arrested in property tax fraud case
Udupi: Udupi City Police have arrested two persons, including a woman, in connection with the alleged misappropriation of property tax funds belonging to the Udupi Municipal Council.
The accused have been identified as Shalini, who was working as a tax consultant outside the municipal office, and Ganesh, a bank employee.
According to police, Anand Suvarna had paid Rs 34,730 towards 12 years of property tax for his building in Kalmadi to Shalini on October 16, 2025. She reportedly issued him a receipt acknowledging the payment.
However, when Suvarna recently checked the status of the payment on the property tax portal, he found that the amount had not been credited and was still shown as pending. He then brought the matter to the notice of the Municipal Commissioner, who verified that the payment had not been recorded.
During questioning, Shalini allegedly admitted to the lapse. On February 16, 2026, she generated a new challan in Suvarna’s name and paid Rs 35,213 towards the dues.
Police said a case has been registered at the Udupi City Police Station against the accused for allegedly misappropriating tax money and defrauding the government by affixing the seal of Union Bank on the challan without remitting the amount initially received from the taxpayer.
Further investigation is under way.
