Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Maharashtra grants ANTF sub-inspectors police chief powers for NDPS cases
In the state of Maharashtra in India, there is a special team of police officers who work to stop illegal drugs.
This team is called the Anti-Narcotics Task Force, or ANTF for short.
The state government has just given these officers new powers.
Now, officers who are sub-inspectors or higher can act like the person in charge of a police station.
This means they can officially lead investigations into drug-related cases.
The law they will use is called the NDPS Act, which was made in 1985.
A special rule in this law, called Section 53(2), allows the government to do this.
The announcement was made by the state's Home Department.
The officers will get these powers once the news is printed in the official government paper, called the gazette.
The Maharashtra government granted Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) officers of police sub-inspector rank and above the powers of an officer-in-charge of a police station.
The powers apply to investigating offences under the NDPS Act, 1985.
The Home Department issued the notification under Section 53(2) of the NDPS Act.
The notification was issued on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The powers take effect from the date of publication of the notification in the official gazette.
- Who
- Police sub-inspectors and higher-ranking officers of Maharashtra's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF)
- What
- Granted the powers of an officer-in-charge of a police station to investigate offences under the NDPS Act, 1985
- When
- On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, with effect from publication of the notification in the official gazette
- Where
- Maharashtra, India
- Why
- To give ANTF sub-inspectors and above the official authority to investigate offences under the NDPS Act
- State government
- Maharashtra
- Issuing department
- Home Department
- Agency affected
- Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF)
- Rank covered
- Police sub-inspector and above
- Authority granted
- Powers of officer-in-charge of a police station
- Law
- NDPS Act, 1985
- Legal provision
- Section 53(2) of the NDPS Act
- Effective from
- Date of publication in the official gazette