One false claim, 6 cops suspended in Mandsaur:Accused, earlier termed wrongly framed, now linked to opium smuggling; 500 calls and CCTV footage cited by police

An opium smuggling case has shaken Madhya Pradesh and triggered serious questions over police conduct after the Madhya Pradesh High Court reprimanded the Mandsaur Superintendent of Police for procedural irregularities. The SP informed the court that six police personnel involved in the arrest had been suspended and that a departmental inquiry had been initiated. The wrongful handling of the accused’s arrest raised concerns about investigative credibility, accountability, and adherence to due process. What began as the arrest of an 18-year-old student has now exposed alleged procedural lapses within the police force, resulting in the suspension of six officials, including the station house officer. The case involves Sohanlal, an 18-year-old student from Rajasthan, who was arrested in August on charges of possessing over 2.7 kilograms of opium. While the police maintain that they have strong evidence linking him to drug trafficking, including call records and CCTV footage, a false claim regarding his arrest location triggered sharp criticism from the High Court and altered the course of the case. Read this report from Dainik Bhaskar… The incident: Arrest and contradictory claims Date: August 29, 2025 Sohanlal, who was travelling by bus from Mandsaur to Pratapgarh (Rajasthan), was allegedly forcibly deboarded by 3–4 men and taken to Malhargarh police station. Police later registered a case against him for possession of 2.714 kilograms of opium under the NDPS Act and produced him before a court on August 30, which sent him to jail. However, police documents stated that Sohanlal was arrested near a cremation ground at Banda Khal Chauraha, a claim contradicted by the family, who alleged he was taken off a bus illegally. Video evidence changes the case Accused Sohanlal’s family approached the High Court, advocate Himanshu Thakur representing the accused informed the court that a video has been submitted showing policemen in plain clothes forcibly removing the youth from a bus. This directly contradicted the police’s official version of the arrest. Taking serious note, the High Court reprimanded the police for providing misleading information. As a result, six policemen, including the station house officer, were suspended for negligence and misrepresentation. Why police claimed arrest near a cremation ground Police later admitted that Sohanlal was indeed detained from a bus. Officials stated that stopping the bus for a formal operation would have taken time and inconvenienced passengers. To avoid this, the FIR mentioned the arrest as having taken place near a cremation ground, allegedly based on a tip-off. According to police, the opium—worth approximately Rs 5.42 lakh—was recovered from the student’s backpack. Court’s sharp remarks: ‘Entire police station involved’ December 6
During the bail hearing, Sohanlal’s family asserted his innocence, stating that he had passed Class 12 with first division and was preparing for PSC examinations. While granting bail, the High Court made strong observations, remarking that the entire police station appeared to be involved in the incident. The court suggested that the case should be transferred to the CBI and directed the Mandsaur Superintendent of Police to appear in person on December 9, questioning whether such actions were taken under official orders or arbitrarily. SP admits lapses in investigation December 9
Mandsaur SP Vinod Kumar Meena appeared before the High Court and acknowledged serious flaws in the arrest and investigation process. He informed the court that six policemen had already been suspended and departmental proceedings initiated. The case caused significant embarrassment for the police department. Contradictions in court: Police and Defence During court proceedings, the investigating sub-inspector initially claimed he could not identify the policeman who deboarded the student from the bus. Senior officers later said the sub-inspector made the statement out of nervousness. Meanwhile, Sohanlal’s lawyer argued that the bag containing opium was not recovered at the spot, citing video evidence. However, upon replaying the footage during the next hearing, the same bag was visible with Sohanlal. This issue remains under judicial consideration. Police claim strong evidence of smuggling Despite procedural lapses, police assert that Sohanlal is not innocent. They claim he had visited Mandsaur 6–7 times earlier as a courier for opium deliveries. Police say they have: Police maintain that all evidence has been submitted before the trial court. 500 calls linked to known drug suppliers According to investigators, Sohanlal worked as a courier for Vikas Chaudhary of Barmer, Rajasthan, and was friends with Chaudhary’s brother Munna Ram. Vikas Chaudhary and Chandraprakash Patidar allegedly operated as poppy husk and opium suppliers. Police found nearly 500 call records between Sohanlal, Vikas Chaudhary, and Chandraprakash Patidar, particularly during Sohanlal’s visits to the Mandsaur region. Chandraprakash Patidar already faces an NDPS case (Crime No. 175/22) registered at Chhoti Sadri police station in Pratapgarh district, in which 5.5 kg of opium was seized. Senior officers monitoring the probe The investigation is being overseen by the Mandsaur Additional SP, with Ujjain IG Umesh Joga and Ratlam Range DIG Nimish Agrawal closely monitoring every aspect. IG Joga had even summoned the Mandsaur SP to Ratlam to review the case in detail. Police allege that Chandraprakash Patidar, seen in a blue T-shirt in CCTV footage, had called Sohanlal to collect opium. The two reportedly signalled each other from a distance. Chandraprakash was arrested during the probe but is currently out on bail. DIG’s statement Ratlam Range DIG Nimish Agrawal said, During the bail hearing, irregularities were found in the police investigation. Prima facie, evidence of narcotics trafficking has emerged against the accused. However, there were procedural lapses during the operation. The policemen responsible will face appropriate action. Courier boys used in drug supply chain Police say traffickers increasingly use courier boys to transport narcotics. Such couriers are typically paid Rs 5,000–10,000 per trip and are instructed only on delivery details. Investigators describe this as a well-organised chain-based system.