U Prathibha MLA’s son omitted from ganja case; charge sheet to be filed soon

ALAPPUZHA: The excise department has omitted Kanivu, son of Kayamkulam MLA U Prathibha, from the ganja case. The excise has submitted an interim report in the case to the excise court. Accused three to nine have been omitted from the case. The charge sheet will be submitted soon.

The action is based on the report that there is no evidence to prove that Kanivu used ganja. Initially, nine people were arraigned in the case. The excise assistant commissioner prepared the investigation report based on the complaint filed by Pratibha MLA. The report said the case against seven including Kanivu will not stand in the court.

The case will remain only against two of the accused found to have possessed ganja. There are no witnesses to Kanivu smoking ganja. The officials also did not see Kanivu smoking. They said that he smelled ganja in his breath. The report also mentioned that this is not enough to file a case against seven people. No matchbox or remains of smoking ganja was found. Blood, hair and nail samples had to be collected to check whether has smoked ganja. However, the report also pointed that no search was conducted.

The Kuttanad Excise team arrested nine including Kanivu from Thakazhi in ganja case. Pratibha's complaint alleged that the officials did not follow procedures and harassed her son.