Rajasthan NDPS court jails six for 15 years in 620 kg poppy straw case
Synopsis
A Rajasthan NDPS court has handed 15-year rigorous imprisonment to six men for trafficking nearly 620 kg of poppy straw from Jharkhand in 2021 — the latest conviction in a pattern of eastern-India-to-Rajasthan narcotics routes that the NCB says it has repeatedly flagged as a structural trafficking corridor.
Key Takeaways
A Special NDPS Court in Bharatpur, Rajasthan sentenced six persons to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment each on 19 June .
Each convict was also fined ₹2 lakh by the court.
The NCB's Jaipur Zonal Unit seized 619.8 kg of doda chura (poppy straw) packed in 28 bags from a truck near Amoli Toll Plaza, Bharatpur on 3 October 2021 .
The contraband was allegedly being transported from Jharkhand to Rajasthan ; Bhutta Ram Bawari was the intended recipient.
NCB has identified Rajasthan as a key transit corridor; a separate seizure of 2,413.68 kg was made near Sanchore, Jalore in August last year.
Citizens can report drug trafficking via the MANAS Helpline: 1933 .
A Special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Court in Bharatpur district, Rajasthan has sentenced six persons to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment each for their role in the interstate trafficking of 619.8 kg of poppy straw intercepted in 2021. The court also imposed a fine of ₹2 lakh on each convict, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said in an official statement on Friday, 19 June.
The Convicts and Their Roles
The six convicted persons are Sangram Ram Bawari, Dheema Ram Bishnoi, Sunil, Oma Ram, Bhutta Ram Bawari, and Kalu Ram Jat. According to the NCB, the accused had conspired to transport the contraband from Jharkhand to Rajasthan. Bhutta Ram was identified as the intended recipient of the consignment, while the remaining five played roles in transportation, escorting the vehicle, and arranging payments.
How the Seizure Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, NCB officials from the Jaipur Zonal Unit intercepted a truck and an escort vehicle near the Amoli Toll Plaza in Bharatpur district on 3 October 2021. A search of the truck yielded 619.8 kg of doda chura (poppy straw) packed in 28 bags. All six accused were arrested on the spot and subsequently charged under various provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985.
Rajasthan as a Transit Corridor
The conviction comes amid sustained efforts by central agencies to disrupt interstate narcotics routes through Rajasthan, which NCB officials have repeatedly identified as a key transit corridor for drugs originating in eastern and central India. Notably, in August last year, the NCB's Jodhpur Zonal Unit seized 2,413.68 kg of poppy straw near Sanchore in Jalore district, allegedly being transported from Jharkhand to Barmer — underlining a recurring Jharkhand-to-Rajasthan trafficking pattern.
NCB's Response and Public Appeal
Welcoming the verdict, NCB officials said the conviction reflects the agency's sustained commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks. The bureau also appealed to citizens to report narcotics trafficking through the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline (1933), assuring strict confidentiality for all informants. The Special NDPS Court at Weir, Bharatpur delivered the ruling, underscoring the judiciary's role in reinforcing enforcement action with legal consequence.
Point of View
400 kg last year — yet only one arrest emerged from the latter case. That disparity raises questions about whether enforcement is keeping pace with the scale of the network, or whether the convictions are targeting foot soldiers while the organising infrastructure remains intact. The NCB's own repeated identification of Rajasthan as a transit corridor suggests the problem is structural, not episodic.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Rajasthan NDPS court ruling on 19 June?
A Special NDPS Court at Weir in Bharatpur district sentenced six persons to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment each and fined them ₹2 lakh apiece for trafficking 619.8 kg of poppy straw in 2021. The case was prosecuted by the NCB's Jaipur Zonal Unit.
Who are the six persons convicted in the Bharatpur poppy straw case?
The six convicts are Sangram Ram Bawari, Dheema Ram Bishnoi, Sunil, Oma Ram, Bhutta Ram Bawari, and Kalu Ram Jat. Bhutta Ram was the intended recipient of the consignment; the others were involved in transport, escort, and payment arrangements.
How was the poppy straw seizure carried out in 2021?
NCB officials intercepted a truck and an escort vehicle near Amoli Toll Plaza in Bharatpur on 3 October 2021, acting on specific intelligence. They recovered 619.8 kg of doda chura packed in 28 bags and arrested all six accused on the spot.
Why is Rajasthan significant in narcotics trafficking cases?
NCB officials have repeatedly identified Rajasthan as a key transit corridor for narcotics originating in eastern and central India, particularly Jharkhand. A separate seizure of 2,413.68 kg of poppy straw was made near Sanchore in Jalore district last August in a similar Jharkhand-to-Rajasthan trafficking attempt.
How can the public report drug trafficking in India?
The NCB has urged citizens to share information through the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline at 1933, assuring strict confidentiality for all informants.
