Lawyer arrested for storing ganja at home for sale

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Excise Department has arrested a lawyer for allegedly storing ganja in his house in Thiruvananthapuram for sale. The arrested person has been identified as Adv Aashiq Prathapan Nair (46), who practices at the Vanchiyoor court.

The Excise Department had seized 9.6 kg of ganja from Aashiq's house at Ayurveda College Junction a month ago. Earlier, excise officials had arrested Shamnad and his accomplice Arul Arumugam for smuggling cannabis from Tamil Nadu for the lawyer. The Assistant Excise Commissioner, who is probing the case, said that Aashiq's role in the ganja smuggling case became evident during the detailed investigation.

Aashiq, who was absconding, was arrested by the excise officials yesterday.