Home Minister contradicts NCB, says no drugs seized in Mysuru

Karnataka’s Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara reiterated on February 7 that no narcotic substances were found during a recent raid by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on a phenyl factory at Hebbal industrial area in Mysuru, as per the information given to him by the city police chief.

“Some chemicals were found during the raid, in which the city police also participated, but no narcotic substance was detected. When this is the case, I do not know why the NCB claimed that narcotics were found during the raid,” the Minister said.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru during a visit to inaugurate a new police station, Dr. Parameshwara said he had contacted the Police Commissioner immediately after the NCB made the claim.

“I called the Police Commissioner following the NCB’s statement, but the official clearly denied finding any narcotic substance. However, after the raid, the NCB issued a statement claiming narcotics were found. In its affidavit, there is no mention of the detection of any narcotic substances,” he clarified.

Clarifying further, the Minister said, “As per our information, no narcotics were detected in the Mysuru raid. Narcotics were actually found during raids in Gujarat, not in Mysuru.”

When asked whether there were any ‘political reasons’ behind the NCB’s claim, Dr. Parameshwara said, “I do not know. I see no reason for the NCB to issue such a press release and make this claim.”

Verifying chemical factories in Karnataka

The Minister said he had instructed the State police to verify all chemical factories across Karnataka, examine their production processes, and check registers of raw materials. “All NoCs must be verified periodically. The police are on the job. We have sufficient funds and manpower to carry out this exercise,” he said.

Need more police stations

On the need for new police stations, Dr. Parameshwara said cities like Bengaluru and Mysuru require more police personnel and police stations. “With the expansion of city limits following the announcement of Greater Bengaluru and Greater Mysuru, more police stations have become essential. A proposal has been submitted to the Chief Minister, and an announcement is expected in the upcoming budget. Based on the budget allocation, we will decide on opening new stations, including women’s police stations and traffic police stations,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister, accompanied by MLAs Tanveer Sait and T.S. Srivatsa, and senior police officials, inaugurated the Siddharthanagar Traffic Police Station in Mysuru, in the presence of Police Commissioner Seema Latkar and KPCC spokesperson H.A. Venkatesh.