Police in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, arrested a dhaba operator identified as Faheem, a resident of Didauri in the Majhola area, late on Monday night in Naya Moradabad.[1][2] Officers seized 1.157 kilograms of charas from him during the arrest.[1][2] Following the arrest, police locked and sealed Mehfil Dhaba, which he operated near Zero Point on Delhi Road in the Majhola police station area.[1][2] Police took strict legal action against the operator under the NDPS Act.[2] On Tuesday, police presented the accused in court, which remanded him to jail.[1]
The illicit drug sales came to light after Abdullah, the 19-year-old son of a utensil trader, was shot dead at the dhaba on Sunday night around 9:30 p.m.[1][2] Abdullah had been drinking tea with three companions when the shooting occurred, prompting his father to file a murder complaint against two men from Mundapande.[1][2] City Superintendent of Police Kumar Ranvijay Singh stated that Faheem fled after the shooting, which prompted police to investigate the late-night crowds of youths at the eatery.[1][2]
During interrogation, Faheem admitted to police that he sold charas and other intoxicants under the cover of serving tea.[1] Police found that charas and smack were supplied to young customers at the dhaba under the cover of tea.[2] He confessed that he mixed intoxicants directly into the tea to make customers addicted and keep them returning late at night.[1] Police reported that youths travelled from surrounding areas, including Pakbara, Majhola, Mundapande and neighbouring districts, to drink tea at the late-night roadside dhaba.[1] Police were also identifying other suspect dhabas in the city that stayed open late without permission and served illicit substances.[2]
