ALAPPUZHA: Two key witnesses in the ganja case involving Kaniv, son of MLA U Prathibha, have turned hostile. Both witnesses, residents of Thakazhi, retracted their earlier statements, now claiming they did not witness any ganja use. Their revised statements were recorded before the Excise Assistant Commissioner following an investigation triggered by Prathibha’s complaint.

The investigation report had been submitted to the Excise Commissioner. Kaniv and eight others were arrested by the Kuttanad Excise team in Thakazhi on December 28 for alleged possession and public consumption of cannabis. Kaniv was the ninth accused in the case. Since the charges were bailable, he was granted station bail. Following media reports, MLA U Prathibha claimed that her son had not used cannabis and that the allegations were false. She later filed a complaint, alleging that the case was fabricated.

The investigation report now suggests that charges are unlikely to stand against Kaniv and seven others. Only two of the accused, from whom cannabis was recovered, will still face charges. There were no witnesses to confirm that Kaniv had consumed cannabis, and even the officials had not seen him using it. The only claim against him was that his breath had the smell of cannabis, which is not sufficient to file charges against the seven individuals, as per the report.