Archive · 1 Sep 2026
BJP Alleges Sixfold Rise in Karnataka Student Drug Network
BJP leader R. Ashoka says more students in Karnataka are being arrested for alleged drug peddling.
He says the number rose from 36 in 2024 to 228 by July 2026.
He says 177 of those students were from Bengaluru.
Ashoka blamed the state government and criticized Home Minister Priyank Kharge.
He asked why police had not stopped students from becoming alleged drug sellers.
He also warned that young people’s futures were being harmed.
Ashoka wants a special police task force to investigate the alleged drug network.
He said Kharge should resign if he cannot handle the problem.
The article reports Ashoka’s allegations and does not include a response from Kharge or the government.
BJP leader R. Ashoka alleged that Karnataka’s student drug-peddling network increased sixfold after the current government came to power.
Ashoka cited figures showing student arrests rising from 36 in 2024 to 59 in 2025 and 228 by July 2026.
He said 177 of the 228 students were from Bengaluru and that total drug-peddling arrests had reached 189.
Ashoka questioned Home Minister Priyank Kharge and the police department over students’ alleged involvement in drug peddling.
He called for a task force to target the alleged drug mafia and urged Kharge to resign if he could not address the issue.
- Who
- BJP leader and Karnataka Opposition Leader R. Ashoka made the allegations against Home Minister Priyank Kharge and the state government.
- What
- Ashoka alleged a sixfold increase in Karnataka’s student drug-peddling network and called for stronger police action.
- When
- The figures cited were 36 arrests in 2024, 59 in 2025, and 228 by July 2026; Ashoka made the statement on Tuesday.
- Where
- Karnataka, with 177 of the 228 cited students reportedly from Bengaluru.
- Why
- Ashoka said stronger action was needed to stop students from becoming drug peddlers and to protect young people from the alleged drug mafia.
BJP allegation
Government response
Scale of the drug network
BJP allegation
R. Ashoka alleged that the network increased sixfold, citing student arrests rising from 36 in 2024 to 228 by July 2026.
Government response
The article does not provide a response from the Karnataka government or Priyank Kharge to the allegation.
Police performance
BJP allegation
Ashoka questioned what the police department had been doing as school and college students allegedly became drug peddlers.
Government response
No response from the police department is included in the article.
Proposed solution
BJP allegation
Ashoka called for a special task force and stringent action against the alleged drug mafia, and asked Kharge to resign if he could not act.
Government response
The article does not report any government position on the proposed task force or resignation demand.
- Alleged student arrests in 2024
- 36
- Alleged student arrests in 2025
- 59
- Alleged student arrests by July 2026
- 228
- Students reportedly from Bengaluru
- 177
- Total drug-peddling arrests cited
- 189
- Requested action
- A task force led by an efficient police officer
- Ashoka’s demand of Priyank Kharge
- Resign as Home Minister if unable to tackle the alleged drug network