Addict to peddler: How promising Bengaluru college girl fell into world of drugs and crime

BENGALURU: She came from a comfortable home, had supportive parents, studied in a reputed college and, by all outward signs, had a promising future ahead of her. But a relationship, curiosity, and addiction slowly pulled her into a world far removed from privilege — one that finally landed her behind bars.

The recent arrest of 21-year-old N Meghana, the only daughter of a realtor and a BBM student at a private college in Basavanagudi, has shocked the tech capital and reopened an uncomfortable topic of conversation: why are youngsters from well-off families in the city increasingly drifting towards drugs?

According to police, Meghana's fall began not with crime, but with consumption. "She was a consumer first," a senior police officer said. "But to sustain the habit, she eventually turned into a peddler." Cops say Meghana was introduced to narcotics by her boyfriend Dileep, who allegedly coaxed her into smoking ganja before gradually exposing her to stronger substances such as MDMA, hashish, and charas.

"Knowing she came from a rich family, he made her bring money from home so they could both enjoy," the officer said. When her parents discovered her addiction last year, they shifted her to a rehabilitation centre. Though she returned home after treatment, police say she soon relapsed. Her family then stopped giving her cash, assuring her that they would take care of her needs directly.

But with the money drying up, Meghana allegedly fell deeper into the trap. This time, she became a drug supplier. "Dileep's friends, Aditya and Mithun, pushed her into selling drugs so she could earn money to buy them again," the officer explained. "That's how the girl stepped into the dark world of drugs."

Social media communication
Meghana allegedly sold narcotics to known contacts, including students and young professionals, using social media to reach out to customers, fix meeting points, and collect payment digitally. "She would deliver drugs only after the money was credited to her bank account," an investigating officer said, adding that bank records since Dec 2025 showed nearly Rs 2 lakh transferred into her account, mostly through online transactions suspected to be payments for drugs.

However, things unravelled when Subramanyapura police, acting on a tip-off, arrested Meghana along with Aditya, who was caught carrying ganja, charas, and MDMA tablets worth about Rs 4 lakh on a gearless scooter. Meghana is now lodged in judicial custody at Bengaluru Central Prison, while police are searching for Dileep and Mithun.

Her mobile phone has been sent for forensic analysis to retrieve deleted data. "We strongly suspect students and young professionals were among her buyers," an officer said. "Once we retrieve the erased data, more names could emerge. We'll get to know who the suppliers and consumers were."