Ganja Behind Gods’ Portraits

In a bizarre blend of faith and crime, a man in Hyderabad was arrested for hiding ganja behind portraits of Hindu deities inside his pooja room. The discovery was made during a raid by the Excise Department’s State Task Force (STF) in the Dhoolpet area, exposing a creative yet shocking method of concealing narcotics.

Officials, acting on a tip-off about a drug stash in Indiranagar, entered a residence where the family was seen performing an elaborate prayer ritual. The scene appeared serene and spiritual, with incense, chants, and traditional offerings in full display. However, the STF officials sensed something unusual.

Upon asking the family to step aside, they inspected the pooja room and discovered paper rolls of ganja hidden behind framed images of gods. The accused, identified as Rohan Singh, had staged the pooja as a decoy to avoid suspicion. A video of the raid has since gone viral on social media, with many netizens ironically commenting, “God is Great,” mocking the trafficker’s misguided reverence.

Further investigations revealed that the seized narcotics were smuggled from Odisha and distributed in Hyderabad’s IT corridors, including Gachibowli and Madhapur. The contraband was sold in small packets of 5g, 10g, 15g, and 20g quantities to local buyers, many of whom are believed to be tech professionals and students.

Massive Ganja Haul:

The STF seized a total of 23.5 kilograms of ganja during three coordinated raids across Dhoolpet. Two traffickers — one from Odisha and one from Hyderabad — were arrested on the spot, while three others involved in the racket are currently absconding.

Speaking to Siasat.com, Excise Superintendent and Operation Dhoolpet Special Officer Anji Reddy confirmed the arrests and said efforts are on to nab the remaining accused. The arrested individuals have been booked under Section 20 (b) (ii) (b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

The department reiterated its commitment to intensifying raids and crackdowns in Hyderabad’s drug-prone pockets. Dhoolpet, known for its history with the narcotics trade, continues to be under close watch.

As for Rohan Singh, his fusion of religion and deception may have initially fooled officers, but not for long. The gods, it seems, weren’t on his side after all.

(With inputs from Siasat.com and Excise Department sources)