Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 17 June 2025
A Pujari (priest) of the Shiv Mandir in Rangat has been arrested with 5.965 kilograms of illicit ganja outside exit gate of Veer Savarkar International Airport, Sri Vijaya Puram. The accused, identified as Sushavan Mukherjee alias Mukherjee Pandit, was apprehended on 16th June 2025 by the Anti-Narcotics Police Station team.
According to the FIR (No. 0006/2025) registered under Section 20(b)(ii)(B) of the NDPS Act, the informer alerted Inspector Vikas Singh, SHO of Anti-Narcotics PS that a person named “Mukherjee Pandit” was arriving from Kolkata and carrying ganja in his luggage to strike a deal in Andaman. A raiding team was constituted under the direction of Dy.SP (Narcotics) Mr. Balram, DANIPS.
At 11:05 AM, the suspect was intercepted near the auto stand at the exit gate of VSI Airport. Upon questioning, he disclosed his name as Sushavan Mukherjee (34 years), son of Late Subir Mukherjee, a resident of Dasratpur, Rangat, North and Middle Andaman. He also revealed that he serves as a Pujari (priest) of Shiv Mandir, Rangat, and is originally from Santipur, Nadia, West Bengal.
A search of his luggage led to the discovery of six brown tape-wrapped packets concealed among clothes. After preliminary testing using a drug detection kit, the substance was confirmed to be ganja. The packets were individually marked and weighed in the presence of independent witnesses.
The total weight of recovered ganja amounted to 5.965 kilograms.
The illicit ganja was immediately seized. The accused was arrested after following due legal formalities.
This case has sparked concern, as it involves a religious figure allegedly abusing his position while engaging in drug trafficking, marking yet another worrying instance of narcotic smuggling into the Islands. (Story Based on FIR & Social Media Post by A & N Police)