JAGATSINGHPUR: Paradip police on Monday arrested two persons for allegedly selling kulfi ice cream laced with bhang (cannabis) to the general public and youths for illegal gains.
The accused are 56-year-old Saurabh Singh, the ice cream seller from Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh and Manoranjan Barik (32) of Badapadia market in Paradip town. Barik reportedly supplied bhang to Singh.
Police said complaints were received about the alleged sale of kulfi ice cream laced with bhang from different areas of Paradip town. Based on the allegations, Paradip police launched a drive to identify ice cream sellers operating in Badapadia area.
During the verification, police found Singh selling kulfi ice creams in a bicycle mounted box which was covered with a red cloth. Upon search, ice creams in both white and green colours were found inside the box.
When questioned about the colour difference, Singh reportedly admitted that the green-coloured kulfis had been adulterated with bhang.
Police said during interrogation, the accused revealed that he had procured the bhang from Barik. He reportedly mixed bhang in kulfi and sold the ice creams to people. Police later searched his shop and recovered four steel tiffin boxes containing bhang. The seized bhang weighed around five kg.
Paradip IIC Babita Dehury said a case under section 52(a) of the Odisha Excise Act and sections 274 and 275 of the BNS was registered against the accused who were arrested and produced in court.