The Madhya Pradesh High Court has called the State Home Department’s Principal Secretary to explain lapses in a drug case arrest in Mandsaur. Six police staff were suspended after arresting 18-year-old Sohanlal Jaat for alleged possession of 2.7 kg opium. The arrest by Malhargarh police is under scrutiny for procedural faults under the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Justice Subodh Abhyankar expressed concerns about the police ignoring BNSS rules, including recording searches on audio and video. The Principal Secretary has been asked to appear via video on January 12, 2026, with a report on steps taken to implement the law. Mandsaur SP Vinod Kumar Meena informed the court that the six police personnel were suspended on December 6 after the court granted bail to Sohanlal, calling the case "rather suspicious." Sohanlal’s family accused police of kidnapping him and planting the drugs. CCTV footage showed three men in plain clothes taking Sohanlal off a bus at 11:39 a.m., but his formal arrest was delayed by six hours. Lawyer Himanshu Thakur said, "During the December 5 hearing, the investigating officer claimed he did not recognize the men who took Sohanlal. Now the SP admits they were cops who broke legal procedure. A departmental inquiry is underway." The suspended officers include Station House Officer Rajendra Pawar, sub-inspectors Sajid Mansuri and Sanjay Pratap Singh, and constables Narendra, Jitendra, and Dilip Jat. Sohanlal’s elder brother, Khartaram Jaat, claimed police held him in a private room for six hours where he was beaten and tortured. They demanded ₹12 lakh for his release and planted opium after he refused. He said Sohanlal is deeply troubled and often repeats the bus incident. Sohanlal was a top student in class 12 who wanted to prepare for civil services. He had gone to Mandsaur to visit a temple before starting his studies but now fears the case may ruin his future. Mr. Thakur added, "Despite the SP admitting negligence, police still claim opium was found on Sohanlal. This will soon fail since CCTV shows he carried nothing."