Shimla police seize Rs 1.64 cr assets of barber accused of running opium network

Shimla, Sep 8 (PTI) A barber shop in Himachal's Theog allegedly served as the base for an opium trafficking network spread across several parts of Shimla district, with police now seizing assets worth Rs 1.64 crore acquired from the illicit trade, an official said on Tuesday. The seized movable and immovable assets of Sohan Lal alias Happy, include a residential plot, a two-storey shop, vehicles and money deposited in various bank and post office accounts, Shimla Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Mehar Panwar said. Addressing a press conference here, Panwar said the district police had raided Lal's barber shop at Rahighat in Theog on June 10, and arrested him with 71 grams of opium. A case was registered against him under Section 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, following which an investigation was launched, she said. The investigation revealed that Lal had allegedly been involved in the opium trade for a long period and was operating a network across Theog, Kotkhai, Rohru and adjoining areas of Shimla district, Panwar said. A subsequent financial investigation found that he had allegedly acquired a residential plot, a two-storey shop, vehicles and funds deposited in various bank and post office accounts, she said. 'The total value of the assets was estimated at Rs 1.64 crore,' Panwar said. The investigation also revealed that Lal was the sole earning member of his family and that his assets were disproportionate to his known sources of income, she said. 'The police subsequently seized the assets allegedly acquired using proceeds from drug trafficking. Further investigation in the case is underway,' Panwar said. PTI COR NB NB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.