Bengaluru, December 13, 2025 – In a bold escalation of its crackdown on narcotics, the Karnataka government has vowed to deploy bulldozers against properties rented out to drug peddlers, drawing sharp internal criticism from senior Congress leaders and reigniting debates over "bulldozer justice."
Home Minister G. Parameshwara announced the zero-tolerance policy during a session in the state Legislative Council on Thursday, emphasizing that the administration is leaving no stone unturned to dismantle drug networks. "We are taking decisive action against drug-related offences on a daily basis," Parameshwara stated. "We are monitoring their movements and have identified the landlords who have rented houses to these people. We are prepared to go to the extent of bulldozing even the homes where the drug peddlers live on rent."
The minister highlighted the involvement of around 300 foreign nationals in the state's burgeoning drug trade, particularly in urban hotspots like Bengaluru. Special teams have been deployed to curb rave parties and other illicit gatherings, with authorities claiming to have intensified surveillance on suspicious rentals. Parameshwara's remarks come amid a surge in drug busts across the state, including recent seizures of synthetic narcotics and MDMA linked to international syndicates.
This aggressive stance mirrors controversial demolition drives in BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, where bulldozers have been used to raze properties of alleged criminals without prior judicial oversight—a practice repeatedly condemned by the Congress party as unconstitutional. However, Parameshwara's warning has sparked immediate backlash from within the party's ranks.
Senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram took to social media to denounce the proposal, calling it an "illegal path" that defies Supreme Court rulings. "I am alarmed by the reported statement of Karnataka's Home Minister that bulldozers may be used to demolish the homes of drug peddlers," Chidambaram posted on X. "The Supreme Court has declared the law that demolishing homes without due process of law is illegal and will violate the fundamental and human rights of other members of the family to a shelter. Let not a Congress-governed state like Karnataka go down the illegal path of UP."
Chidambaram's critique has fueled speculation of an internal rift within the Congress, which has long positioned itself against such extrajudicial measures. Legal experts echoed his concerns, noting that any demolition must adhere to principles of natural justice and prior notice to avoid challenges under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.
Government officials, however, defended the policy as a necessary deterrent. "This is not about vengeance but protecting our youth from the scourge of drugs," a senior police officer told reporters, adding that landlords would be given opportunities to respond before any action is taken. The state has already registered cases against several property owners under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for facilitating peddlers.
As Bengaluru grapples with rising addiction rates—particularly among college students and tech professionals—the Parameshwara administration's rhetoric signals a potential shift toward more punitive enforcement. Critics argue it risks alienating vulnerable communities, while supporters hail it as a long-overdue response to a crisis that has claimed numerous lives.
The controversy is likely to dominate the winter session of the Karnataka Assembly, with opposition parties demanding clarity on implementation safeguards. For now, the specter of bulldozers serves as a stark reminder of the government's resolve—and the fine line between deterrence and overreach in India's battle against narcotics.
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