The Special Judge-II court acquitted Baldev and Suman in the Gutkar case, where police said they found 1.111 kg of charas in a car.[1] The court based its decision on contradictions between the statements of police officers and independent witnesses.[1] It found that an independent witness, Gopal, did not confirm the recovery.[1] Another witness’s statement and the police testimony also differed over the time and the action, the court found.[1] It held that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt and acquitted both men.[1]

According to the prosecution, police searched a car standing near the Hanuman temple in Gutkar on the night of 25 February 2023.[1] Police said the charas was found in a pocket on the driver’s seat cover.[1] Balh police said at the time that they had stopped an Alto car at a checkpoint in Gutkar and recovered 1 kg 111 g of charas from the two men inside.[2] The car was coming from Nerchowk towards Mandi.[2] Police arrested both occupants.[2] A case was registered against both under sections 20 and 29 of the NDPS Act.[1]

Mandi superintendent of police Shalini Agnihotri said the men would be produced in court and police remand sought.[2] She said police would investigate where the charas came from and where it was to be delivered.[2]