Srinagar, Mar 3 (KNS): Srinagar Police has busted a criminal conspiracy involving the planting of contraband in a vehicle to falsely implicate a man in an NDPS case.

SP City South Shabir Khan, while addressing a press conference, revealed that five accused have been arrested so far in connection with the case.

According to police, the case came to light on February 24 when an advocate, Yusha Yousuf Mir, reported to Shaheed Gunj Police Station that a suspicious vehicle, bearing registration number JK01 AX-8467, was frequently parked near Oasis School, Karan Nagar. Following the tip-off, an SPO was deputed to observe the vehicle. Upon confirmation of its presence, a magistrate was called, and the vehicle's owner was contacted for a search.

During the preliminary search in the presence of the magistrate, a charas-like substance was found in the boot space of the vehicle. Subsequently, a formal case (FIR No. 05/2025 U/S 8/20 NDPS Act) was registered, and a thorough search led to the recovery of 452 grams of charas from the boot space and under the back seat.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe vehicle's owner, Manzoor Ahmad Bhat of Astan Mohalla, Natipora, was arrested.

Further investigation unraveled a deeper conspiracy. Police found that the charas was planted by Manzoor's acquaintances—Mohd Shafi Badyari, Arshid Ahmad Wani, and Toufeeq Ali—who had taken the vehicle days before the arrest. The trio, along with Zahoor Ahmad Mir and Rouf Ahmad Mir, had hatched a plot five months ago to implicate Manzoor in an NDPS case to extort money from him over a land deal. The contraband was procured earlier and stored at a shop in Rambagh before being planted in the vehicle.

On February 26, four accused—Mohd Shafi Badyari, Arshid Ahmad Wani, Toufeeq Ali, and Rouf Ahmad Mir—were arrested, leading to further recovery of contraband. Police have also invoked Section 29 NDPS Act and Sections 228, 229 of BNS in the case. More arrests are expected as the investigation progresses. (KNS)