Mumbai

The Centre today told the Bombay High Court that Maharashtra government’s recommendation of a ban on the drug Mephedrone, also known as `meow-meow’, was under consideration.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Dr Yusuf Merchant seeking a direction to the central and state governments to conduct investigation into the nature, effects and availability of Mephedrone and consider its inclusion in the list of scheduled (banned) substances under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Additional government pleader H S Venegoankar said the state had already sent a proposal to the union government in this regard and was waiting for its reply.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh informed that this recommendation to bring the drug under the purview of NDPS Act is already under consideration.

Petitioner’s lawyer advocate V R Dhond said 53 countries have banned the drug but it is freely available in India for Rs 150-500 per gram.

According the the petitioner, the narcotic effects of Mephedrone – also known as MD, Meow Meow and M-cat — are ten times more intense than heroin.

Essentially a plant fertiliser, it is being abused, he added.

The court has directed the union and state governments to file their respective affidavits in this regard.

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