Ballari Range IGP Invokes PIT NDPS Act Against Habitual Drug Offender
According to officials, his activities were not isolated incidents but part of a continuing and repetitive pattern. Harsha said the Ballari Superintendent of Police collected all relevant documents and carried out a scientific assessment of the accused’s activities.
Ballari: Citing his long record of involvement in narcotics-related cases, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ballari Range, Dr PS Harsha, on Thursday invoked the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act and ordered the detention of a habitual offender, Daula alias Mahboob Daula. Following the issuance of the order, the accused was traced by police and taken into custody to implement the preventive detention.
Giving details, Harsha said police records showed that Daula’s name had figured in NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) cases for nearly 15 years. From the early 2010s till 2025, as many as 21 cases related to the illegal sale and trafficking of drugs have been registered against him.
According to officials, his activities were not isolated incidents but part of a continuing and repetitive pattern. Harsha said the Ballari Superintendent of Police collected all relevant documents and carried out a scientific assessment of the accused’s activities. The case was examined in consultation with legal experts.
“Despite repeated cases, there were no signs of reformation. Daula continued to indulge in activities prejudicial to society, posing a serious threat to the youth of the region,” Harsha said. He added that Daula’s activities were not confined to Ballari district but had spread to neighbouring districts such as Mysuru, Tumakuru and Vijayanagara, and even to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
“From being a local offender, Daula had grown into a serious challenge for law enforcement agencies across the State. This prompted the police to explore stronger legal options to curb his activities,” he added.
Harsha said the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act provides powers to prevent activities harmful to social harmony and youth. Based on a detailed proposal prepared by the Ballari SP, the case was examined and found fit for detention under Section 3(1) of the 1988 Act.
Before issuing the detention order, authorities undertook legal scrutiny of all 21 NDPS cases registered against him, including FIRs, charge sheets and bail orders. A chronological timeline of his criminal history was prepared and the legal status of each case verified.
In view of his persistent record, a detention order was issued under Section 3(1) of the PIT NDPS Act, under which the IGP is the competent authority. The Act, enacted in 1988, provides for preventive detention of habitual offenders involved in illicit drug trafficking when normal criminal law is found inadequate.