Hyderabad, April 23 -- The Telangana High Court has affirmed that when properties are seized under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the responsibility to prove that such assets were not acquired through illicit means rests squarely on the accused.

The court also clarified that, while alternative avenues of appeal are available, High Courts should not directly intervene under Article 226 when such remedies exist.

Background of the case

In a recent case, Gundumalla Venkataiah from Shadnagar filed a petition in the High Court seeking to overturn orders by the Shadnagar police, who had seized his immovable and movable properties in connection with a case registered under the NDPS Act.

Justice NV Shravan Kumar pre...