BELAGAVI: Authorities have apprehended a farmer in Belagavi district for allegedly cultivating a significant quantity of ganja, concealing the illicit plants within a crop of red gram. The raid, conducted by members of the special narcotics vigilance cell of the Basavana Bagewadi police station, uncovered over 500 cannabis plants. The operation took place in Dindawar village, where the farmer, identified as Sharanappa Jeer, 56, had planted the red gram on the periphery of his farm while hiding the ganja plants in the center.
The Chenab Times has learned that the total seizure included 202.75 kilograms of cannabis, with an estimated market value of ₹1,01,37,500. Following the discovery, a case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi commended the efforts of the investigative team, including officers Chandrakant Nandareddy and Gurushanth Dashyal, for their successful operation.
This incident is part of a broader trend of ganja cultivation and trafficking being uncovered in Karnataka. Earlier in October 2026, police in Vijayapura district, which includes Dindawar village, also arrested a farmer in a similar operation. In another development, in August 2025, Belagavi police seized 43 kilograms of cannabis and arrested six individuals in connection with a drug racket that had allegedly been supplying narcotics to the district for four years. The alleged kingpin of this operation was identified as Ismail alias Saddam Babu Sayad, who reportedly procured cannabis from the Madhya Pradesh–Maharashtra border region and Odisha.
Further, in September 2025, the Raibag police in Belagavi seized approximately 441 kg of ganja, valued at around ₹22 lakh, from a farm and arrested a farmer. The cultivation of ganja amidst other crops, such as red gram or sugarcane, has been a recurring method employed by farmers to evade detection, as reported in various incidents across the state and neighboring regions. For instance, in May 2026, a 65-year-old farmer in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, was arrested for growing ganja in his sugarcane fields, and in October 2023, a farmer in Bidar district, Karnataka, was apprehended for cultivating marijuana alongside sorghum and cotton plants.
The modus operandi often involves disguising the illicit plants within legitimate agricultural produce to avoid suspicion from authorities and local residents. These operations highlight the persistent challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating drug cultivation and trafficking, with significant quantities of contraband being seized regularly. The value of the seized ganja, exceeding ₹1 crore in this latest incident, underscores the substantial financial stakes involved in such illegal activities. The investigation into Sharanappa Jeer’s case is ongoing, with authorities seeking to understand the full extent of his involvement and any potential network he may be connected to.
The Chenab Times News Desk