Maintaining the chain of custody is critical in law enforcement to ensure justice is delivered. However, repeated lapses often weaken serious cases, turning strong allegations into failed prosecutions and raising concerns about procedural discipline.
A recent incident from Ranchi highlights such weaknesses in narcotics investigations. In January 2022, police from Ormanjhi intercepted a white Bolero on NH-20 following a tip-off about ganja being transported from Ranchi to Ramgarh.
During the interception, three suspects fled while police arrested Indrajeet Rai alias Anurjeet Rai. Officers claimed they recovered 170 packets of ganja weighing about 200 kilograms, hidden in vehicle compartments and valued at nearly Rs 1 crore.
An FIR was registered under the NDPS Act, and Rai remained in custody during the trial. The case appeared strong until a major development surfaced during court proceedings.
In 2024, police informed the special NDPS court that the seized ganja had been destroyed by rats inside the station malkhana. A station diary entry supported this claim, while contradictory witness statements further weakened the prosecution’s version.
On December 19, 2025, Additional Judicial Commissioner Anand Prakash acquitted the accused, citing gross negligence and a broken chain of custody. The court observed that the missing evidence cast serious doubt over the entire investigation.
The case has revived concerns about how contraband is stored in police stations. Similar rodent-related lapses have been reported earlier in Jharkhand, pointing to systemic issues rather than isolated incidents.
Without secure storage and strict oversight, even well-built cases can collapse in court. Such failures not only lead to acquittals but also erode public trust in the criminal justice system.
i can not believe what i’m reading pic.twitter.com/p8YO82WhQq
— isha ️ (@ish_aga) December 31, 2025
