Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 30: Police personnel of Suddugunte Palya station within the southeast division arrested four drug peddlers in two separate cases. They allegedly were selling charas and ganja for use during the new year celebrations.

The arrested people are K Preethipal alias Preethipal Rai (48) of Dakshina Kannada origin, his accomplice, K Khalander (31) relating to one case. In the other case, Amith Kumar (31) and Suraj (32) from Uttar Pradesh have been arrested. 21.4 kg ganja and 600 grams of charas totally worth Rs 73 lac was confiscated from their possession.

Preethipal and Khalander used to buy ganja at low prices from hilly terrain near Rajahmundry and bring the same to the city by vehicles. Preethipal is also identified with other names like Prithvi Vinay and Gautham Shetty. He already faces liquor transportation cases in Goa and Kerala states. He also has been named as an accused in over eight criminal cases including Bantwal rural, Udupi, Bunder Mangaluru and excise department. He faces three more cases in Puttur town police station. He had absconded and started living in Bengaluru.

The peddlers used to sell drugs to college students and software employees. Preethipal had obtained bail in earlier cases and then avoided attending the hearings. It is said that a few peddlers who were recently jailed were in contact with Preethipal.