I will personally check Goan arrested in drug case: Nitin Gadkari

BJP president Nitin Gadkari today said that he will personally check the plea of his party legislator seeking to release a Goan imprisoned in Mumbai jail under charges of drug peddling.

"The person arrested may be innocent that's why he must have demanded his release. I will personally cross check about the issue," Gadkari told reporters in Goa.

While Bharatiya Janata Party has been demanding curbing of drug menace in the state, its own legislator, Dayanand Mandrekar, during recently held assembly session, had demanded state government's intervention to release a youth arrested for drug peddling by Mumbai police.

Mandrekar, former minister in Manohar Parrikar cabinet, represents coastal Siolim constituency.

Responding to a question, Gadkari said that BJP will never encourage drug trade under any circumstances.

BJP's leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar, recently, had demanded detailed inquiry into the involvement of politicians in this drug trade.

Parrikar had said that the probe should be conducted by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as local crime branch is likely to be bogged down by political pressures.