In a sharp turn of events linked to an alleged 30-kilogram ganja haul, the Supreme Court has called for a deeper look into the possible involvement of students from Savitribai Phule Pune University in drug-related crimes.
The directive came during a hearing on the bail application of 25-year-old Anil Bhor, currently facing trial under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Arrested in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district in February 2024, Bhor and co-accused Prashant Athani—both students of the same university—were allegedly found in possession of a significant quantity of contraband.
A Bench comprising Justices Pankaj Mithal and SVN Bhatti didn’t stop at the immediate case. Disturbed by the possibility of a broader pattern, the Court ordered Chhattisgarh Police to gather data on how many other students from the university have been caught in similar circumstances. The directive asks the police to coordinate with the local Station House Officer and university authorities to collect the necessary information.
“We direct… the State of Chhattisgarh to find out how many other students of this University are involved in similar kinds of incidences and how many of them are facing investigation/trial,” the Court stated.
The case has raised eyebrows over institutional responsibility and whether there’s an undercurrent of drug circulation within student networks. Bhor, meanwhile, has maintained that he had no knowledge of the substance found and pointed to procedural lapses in the investigation. His legal team has also noted that crucial prosecution witnesses have since turned hostile.
The Supreme Court is set to revisit the matter in July.
