DK Shivakumar Warns Of Pan Masala And Gutka Ban In Karnataka Over Drug Concerns

During an event at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar warned that the state government is prepared to implement a statewide ban on all types of pan masala, gutka, and chewing tobacco products. The warning comes amid allegations that intoxicating substances are being mixed into these products to engineer a drug-like high for consumers.

Shivakumar was speaking at the 31st Foundation Day celebration of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and the 'Drug-Free India Conclave'. He stated that if the reports of these products being laced with intoxicating substances are found to be true and the practice is not stopped immediately, a complete ban on the sale of pan masala, gutka, and chewing tobacco will be enforced across Karnataka.

"It has come to my attention that intoxicating substances are being mixed into pan masala, gutka, areca nut, and other such products before being sold, engineered to give a drug-like ‘high’," Shivakumar said during his address. "If this is indeed true and is not stopped immediately, the sale of all types of pan masala, gutka, and chewing tobacco products will be banned in Karnataka."

To highlight the challenges in tackling the drug menace, the Chief Minister used a "tap and bucket" analogy. He explained that local enforcement efforts alone are insufficient to curb the problem. While Karnataka established a dedicated Anti-Narcotic Task Force in 2025 to target trafficking networks, Shivakumar noted that such initiatives cannot succeed if national borders remain compromised.

Additionally, Shivakumar issued a stern warning to medical and health professionals against participating in drug rackets. He cautioned that any drug conviction under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act would lead to severe professional consequences, including arrest and a permanent criminal record. He emphasized that a conviction would result in the immediate and permanent end of their medical careers, stating, "No licence, no registration, no practice."

The event also served as a platform for the Chief Minister to confirm that RGUHS will be relocated to a new campus in the Bengaluru South district. According to an official, the land identified for the new campus, which was previously under litigation, has now been cleared, and the university's transition is being carried out in a phased manner.