A Pune court has acquitted three young men booked for consuming marijuana after they completed a month-long de-addiction programme, in a treatment-led intervention carried out under Section 64-A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
The three—Samarth Satish Mane, 23, Roshan Siddharth Sawale, 19, and Omkar Dnyanoba Ukarande, 19—were found consuming marijuana within the limits of the Nanded City police station, according to a report by Lokmat – Pune. Separate cases had been registered against them under the NDPS Act.
Considering their age and future, the lawyers representing the three men asked the court to allow them to undergo treatment under Section 64-A instead of being sent to prison. The court subsequently directed them to complete a one-month de-addiction programme at the Atmanirbhar Foundation’s rehabilitation centre in Kirkatwadi.
All three completed the prescribed treatment period. Based on the rehabilitation report submitted by the centre, the court acquitted them, the report said. The action gives effect to a provision of the NDPS Act that allows eligible individuals who voluntarily undergo de-addiction treatment and meet the legal conditions to receive relief from prosecution.
Section 64-A is intended to provide treatment and rehabilitation alongside the criminal-law response for people affected by drug dependence. The provision does not create a general exemption from prosecution; its benefit is subject to the conditions specified in the law and the assessment of the court.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr Sagar Kawade, who was quoted in the report, said the police department’s objective was not merely to register cases and send young people to prison. He said helping people trapped in addiction recover and rebuild their lives was important, describing the rehabilitation of the three men as a significant step in that effort.
The intervention was carried out under the guidance of Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner Sanjay Darade, Additional Commissioner Rajesh Bansode, Deputy Commissioner Dr Sagar Kawade and Assistant Commissioner Vijay Kumbhar. Senior police inspector Atul Bhos, police inspector Prasad Raut, sub-inspector Suresh Kharmate, assistant police naik Vinod Bhandalkar and police personnel Vijay Virnak, Santosh Suryawanshi and Vijaysing Girase were also involved in the process, according to the report.
The case places the court, police and rehabilitation provider in a coordinated role: the police registered the cases, the court ordered treatment and reviewed the rehabilitation report, and the de-addiction centre documented completion of the programme. The court’s order followed the men’s completion of the prescribed one-month treatment, and no further implementation step was reported.
