Crime
California Legislature Strips Psychedelics Decriminalization from Senate Bill
A California bill that would have decriminalized psychedelic drugs including psilocybin and LSD was gutted by a legislative committee, leaving only legislation to study the decriminalization proposal.
Provisions of a California bill that would have decriminalized psychedelic drugs including magic mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA were stripped from the measure by a legislative committee last week, with lawmakers instead amending the bill to only study the issue.
The measure, Senate Bill 519 from Senator Scott Wiener, would have allowed for the personal possession and use of psychedelic drugs including mescaline, ibogaine, MDMA, and psilocybin. Wiener, a Democrat from San Francisco, has said that the legislation would have helped address the disproportionate enforcement of the state’s drug laws while allowing for the therapeutic use of psychedelics, which have been shown to have potential as treatments for serious mental health issues including addiction, PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Wiener originally introduced the legislation in the California Senate last year, where it passed with a narrow majority. But opposition to the legislation in the State Assembly led him to delay a vote on the bill until this year. The Assembly Appropriations Committee considered the measure on Thursday, passing an amended version of the bill that removes the psychedelics decriminalization provisions. Instead, the new language of the bill only authorizes a study of the proposal.
The bill was amended without debate or discussion under what the Sacramento Bee characterized as “California’s shadiest rules for lawmaking,” whereby the Appropriations Committee determines which of hundreds of bills that include costs for the state will advance to a vote of the full Assembly. The senator did not learn of the change until the next day, when he said he would reintroduce the bill next year.
“I’ve now confirmed that SB 519 – decriminalizing possession and use of small quantities of certain psychedelic drugs – was amended by the Assembly Appropriations Committee to remove the decriminalization aspect of the bill,” Wiener said in a statement from his office. “As a result, the soon-to-be-amended version of SB 519 is limited to a study. While I am extremely disappointed by this result, I am looking to reintroducing this legislation next year and continuing to make the case that it’s time to end the War on Drugs. Psychedelic drugs, which are not addictive, have incredible promise when it comes to mental health and addiction treatment. We are not giving up.”
A spokesman for Wiener reportedly said that he would withdraw the amended bill from consideration.
Psychedelics Decriminalization for Mental Health in California
When he introduced the legislation in 2021, Wiener said that it would allow those with mental health conditions including PTSD and anxiety to take advantage of the potential mental health benefits of psychedelics. The legislation was supported by many drug policy and mental health advocates, although some balked at provisions that set limits on the amount of psychedelics that would be decriminalized.
“I understand the frustration from advocates over possession limits added to the bill, and my preference would have been not to have possession limits at all,” Wiener said last year, adding that the legislation stood a better chance of passage with the limits. “But sometimes you have a choice about, do you want to pass a meaningful bill, or do you want to insist on the perfect and pass no bill?”
Law enforcement groups that had originally opposed Wiener’s bill had reportedly eased their position and were willing to compromise. A spokesperson for Wiener’s office said that he was “prepared to scale the bill back” in response to concerns that were raised over the legislation, including limiting the measure to entheogenic plants and fungi, which would remove LSD and MDMA from the decriminalization bill.
SB 519 was gutted by the Appropriations Committee despite bipartisan support in the legislature and no formal opposition to the measure. The Sacramento Bee noted that 58% of Californians support psychedelics decriminalization and the bill was on a path to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for approval. But with the bill now stripped of its decriminalization provisions, veterans and others living with severe mental health disorders will have to wait at least another year to use psychedelics for relief without fear of law enforcement interference.
“The problem, as with all moral victories in politics, is that real people suffer from the delay. Like the cancer-stricken veterans who waited years for Congress to expand health care coverage to include burn pit exposure, those with PTSD will have to wait longer until they can safely access psychedelics in California that could save their lives,” Yousef Baig, assistant opinion editor of the Sacramento Bee, wrote in an editorial. “The same applies to people with addiction disorders or other mental illnesses who struggle to find relief. All they have to do is survive until California lawmakers realize that their crooked practices have consequences.”
Gadag: Authorities in Karnataka have dismantled a cyber fraud network accused of exploiting students by opening bank accounts in their names and using them to channel illicit funds. Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, police confirmed.
The operation, uncovered in Gadag district, involved the seizure of 11 mobile phones and eight “bank kits,” including passbooks, ATM cards, SIM cards, and online banking credentials.
Students Targeted With Scholarship Promise
Investigators revealed that the accused allegedly targeted students by offering assistance in securing government scholarships. Under this pretext, they persuaded students—particularly those staying in hostels—to open bank accounts.
Once the accounts were created, the suspects reportedly took control of all associated banking materials, including login details and SIM cards, effectively gaining full access.
Small Deposits Used to Build Trust
To avoid suspicion, the accused allegedly deposited around ₹2,000 into each account during the setup phase. This initial transaction was used to create legitimacy and reassure victims before the accounts were misused.
Police believe these accounts were later used as “mule accounts” to route money obtained from cyber fraud operations conducted across multiple regions.
Arrests Made During Goa Operation
The investigation began earlier this month and quickly led authorities to track the suspects’ movements to Goa. Police intercepted the group while they were allegedly attempting to hand over collected bank kits to other members of the network.
The main accused—identified as Raja (23) and Vakdoth Vakeel (24)—are residents of the Vijayanagara district. During interrogation, they reportedly admitted to coordinating with other associates for commission-based transactions.
Additional Suspects and Seizures
Further arrests included individuals working and residing in Goa, such as a hotel employee and a DJ. Authorities also seized multiple bank kits linked to accounts opened in different districts, including Haveri and Gadag, primarily in branches of Bank of Maharashtra.
One key suspect remains absconding, and efforts are ongoing to track additional members of the network.
Larger Network Under Investigation
Officials suspect the operation may be part of a wider, multi-state cybercrime network. Forensic analysis of seized devices and bank transactions is underway to determine the scale of the fraud and identify links to other cases.
Cybersecurity experts note that the use of mule accounts has become a widespread tactic in financial fraud schemes. By using accounts opened in the names of unsuspecting individuals, criminals can obscure money trails and evade detection.
Rising Concern Over Student Exploitation
The case highlights a growing trend where students and vulnerable individuals are manipulated into unknowingly participating in financial crimes. Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious and avoid sharing banking details or opening accounts on behalf of others without full understanding.
Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are expected as police continue to unravel the network.
Corporate Crime
Patna-Based Cyber Fraud Ring Busted for Crores-Scale Gas Connection Scam Targeting Mumbai Residents
Patna/Mumbai: Law enforcement authorities have dismantled an interstate cyber fraud network operating from Bihar’s capital Patna that allegedly cheated victims out of crores of rupees by posing as gas service providers. Four suspects, including the alleged mastermind, were arrested during a police raid conducted at a rented apartment in the city.
Investigators say the group specifically targeted residents of Mumbai while running its operations from Patna for several months, exploiting online communication platforms and social engineering techniques to deceive victims.
Cyber Fraud Operation Run from Patna Apartment
According to police officials, the accused had been running the fraudulent operation for nearly five to six months from a flat in the New Jaganpura locality under the jurisdiction of Ramkrishna Nagar police station.
Based on a tip-off, a cybercrime investigation team raided the apartment and arrested four individuals identified as Shridhar, Gultan Yadav, Arun Mandal, and Pankaj Kumar.
Authorities believe Shridhar, a resident of Pune in Maharashtra, orchestrated the scheme. The other suspects — Gultan Yadav, Arun Mandal, and Pankaj Kumar — are reportedly from Madhupur in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district.
Police suspect the group deliberately operated from Patna while focusing on victims in other states, particularly Mumbai, to avoid drawing local attention to their activities.
How the Gas Connection Scam Worked
Preliminary investigations reveal that the gang impersonated representatives of gas distribution agencies. Victims were approached with offers to help with new gas connections, transfers of existing connections, or disconnection services.
In several cases, victims were informed that their gas service would soon be suspended unless they made an immediate payment. The urgency created by the fraudsters reportedly pressured many individuals into transferring money without verifying the legitimacy of the request.
Authorities believe dozens of people may have fallen victim to the scam, with the total amount defrauded estimated to be in the crores.
Telegram Used to Find and Contact Victims
Investigators revealed that the gang used messaging platforms, particularly Telegram, to locate and communicate with potential victims. The suspects reportedly operated multiple channels and groups advertising assistance related to gas services and customer support.
Once a victim responded to these posts, the accused would initiate conversations and convince them to send payments through bank transfers or digital payment platforms.
Police say the scammers relied heavily on urgency and impersonation tactics to build trust and quickly obtain money before victims realized the fraud.
18 Mobile Phones Seized as Evidence
During the raid, police recovered 18 mobile phones from the suspects. Authorities believe the devices may contain critical digital evidence, including communication logs, transaction details, and data related to other potential victims.
Forensic examination of the devices is currently underway to trace the financial trail, identify bank accounts used in the fraud, and determine whether additional accomplices were involved.
Investigators are also exploring possible links between this group and other cybercrime networks operating across different states.
Cybersecurity Experts Warn About Social Engineering Scams
Cybersecurity experts caution that such fraud schemes often rely on social engineering, where criminals manipulate victims by creating urgency or fear related to essential services.
Former IPS officer and cybercrime expert Prof. Triveni Singh explained that scammers frequently send alarming messages regarding services such as gas, electricity, banking, or KYC updates.
He advised citizens to verify any payment requests directly through official customer support channels or company websites before transferring money online.
Experts say confirming information through legitimate sources remains one of the most effective ways to prevent cyber fraud.
Corruption
Excess Spending Exposes Irregularities: Corruption Case Filed Against Police Constable Driver
A police constable driver in Lucknow has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act after an investigation revealed that his expenditure significantly exceeded his declared income, raising serious allegations of financial misconduct.
Investigation Reveals Major Income-Expenditure Discrepancy
The case concerns Constable Driver Rahul Kumar Shukla, posted in the BBD area of Lucknow. Authorities reported that during the period under review, his legitimate income was approximately ₹35.73 lakh, including salary, allowances, and arrears. However, his total expenditure was found to be ₹68.26 lakh, 91% higher than his known sources of income.
The investigation was triggered by a confidential complaint alleging accumulation of assets and spending far beyond lawful means. Authorities collected detailed information regarding Shukla’s bank transactions, assets, and financial activity. The analysis confirmed a ₹32.53 lakh gap between income and expenditure, prompting the registration of a formal corruption case.
Background of the Accused
Records indicate that Rahul Kumar Shukla, originally from Shahabpur village in Pratapgarh district, joined the Uttar Pradesh Police as a constable driver on April 26, 2003. He currently resides in Meera Vihar Colony, Panchamkheda, Lucknow.
Authorities are now examining his property records, bank accounts, and other financial documents to determine the source of the additional funds.
Possible Further Revelations
Investigators noted that in cases of disproportionate assets, financial scrutiny often spans several years. Investigators typically verify:
- Salary and allowance records
- Property purchases
- Bank and investment transactions
- Other financial activities
Authorities expect that further irregularities may emerge as the probe continues. Legal proceedings have already begun, and strict action could be taken if the allegations are confirmed.
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