Man accused of cultivating opium poppy gets relief as J&K HC refuses to cancel bail

NEW DELHI: The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh high court has refused to interfere with bail granted to a man accused of cultivating opium poppy on one marla of land, noting that he had not violated any of the conditions imposed while on bail. The court dismissed the Union Territory’s plea challenging the bail order on September 1, 2026.Why was the man arrested?According to the court order, Ghulam Nabi Mir was arrested on May 6, 2026, on allegations that he had cultivated an opium poppy crop on one marla of land. The Special Judge, NDPS, Anantnag, initially granted him interim bail on May 29, which was subsequently made absolute.The Union Territory challenged the bail, arguing that Mir had committed an offence punishable under Section 18(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.