The Bombay High Court recently expressed concern about the physical and emotional risks of drug abuse among youth and adolescents, as it rejected the bail application of a man accused of selling charas-laced brownies.
Justice Anuja Prabhudessai noted that drug abuse among adolescents and young people is well-known to pose a high risk of physical, psychological, and emotional disorders. The court emphasized that the long-term effects of drug abuse not only impact the user but also have devastating consequences for the entire family.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), investigating the case, stated that the accused’s primary customers were adolescents who purchased marijuana-laced desserts from him. The accused was allegedly accepting orders and selling charas-infused brownies through an online delivery platform called the WeFast App.
During a search, the NCB found approximately 10 kilograms of brownies laced with charas. The NCB argued that the statements of witnesses suggested that the accused targeted vulnerable young victims, subjecting them to the harmful effects of long-term substance abuse.
The defendant’s attorney sought bail, highlighting that the accused had been in custody since July 12, 2021, and was a young youth with no prior criminal record. However, the court denied bail, stating that the allegations against the defendant appeared to be true prima facie.
Justice Prabhudessai pointed out that the prohibition on bail under Section 37 of the Narcotics, Drugs, and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) applied in this case. Moreover, she concluded that there was a possibility of the defendant continuing to sell charas-laced brownies to students and adolescents online, leading to the rejection of his bail application.
