Police arrested two men on 27 March 2026.[1] Cannabis plants, called ganja in India, were growing hidden among maize crops in Pawaras village, in the Farsgaon police station area of Kondagaon district, Chhattisgarh.[2] The plants had grown three to four feet tall, and Farsgaon sub-divisional police officer Abhinav Upadhyay said the fields had been cultivated for several months.[3]

Police acted on a tip-off that the two men were growing cannabis in their maize fields.[1] The police team searched the fields with revenue department officials.[1] Abhiram Yadav, 28, had 237 plants weighing about 14.96 kg in his field, and Shravan Kumar Uike, 38, had 449 plants weighing 6.40 kg.[1] Police valued the seized plants at about 10 lakh rupees, or 1 million rupees.[3] Both were charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.[1]

Upadhyay said both accused were habitual ganja smokers who had planted the crop for their own use, and that the initial investigation found no commercial use.[2] Police said they were still investigating who else was involved and whether a larger gang was behind the cultivation.[2] Former cabinet minister Mohan Markam said opium and ganja were flourishing in the state and called on the home minister and chief minister to resign.[2]