Job Loss Leads Hyd Techie to Illegal Farming

A former software engineer in Hyderabad, Ch Shashidhar, was arrested for cultivating ganja plants at his residence in East Gandhinagar in Nacharam. Shashidhar, 37, allegedly lost his job due to substance addiction, particularly to ganja and alcohol. Ranga Reddy Enforcement ‘A' team seized 17 ganja plants from his rooftop, with some reaching a height of three meters and even beginning to flower. Officials estimated the yield from the plants to be about 10 kg.

According to excise officials, Shashidhar started growing ganja plants on his terrace to cater to his personal needs after losing his job. Ghatkesar excise sub-inspector Sangeetha Reddy stated that Shashidhar would extract seeds from the ganja he used to buy and cultivate the contraband on his terrace.

Shashidhar was handed over to the Ghatkesar excise station officials for further action. In a related incident, two BTech students, Bandi Arun Kumar and B Ashish, were arrested by the same excise team in Medipally for selling ganja. They were found in possession of 480gm of the substance and were also handed over to Ghatkesar excise officials.