Indian fashion designer Prasad Bidappa has been jailed here for alleged possession of marijuana, a drug banned in the United Arab Emirates, Indian officials said Tuesday.

Indian officials learnt of Bidappa's arrest Saturday but it was not known when the designer was actually detained.

The designer's wife Judy, while speaking to the Gulf News daily, admitted her husband occasionally smoked marijuana but said he would "never carry marijuana to Dubai".

Indian Consul General Yash Sinha said: "The case is under trial and we have recommended some lawyers for him. He (Bidappa) has informed us that he is being treated very well.

"The consulate has provided him consular access and will provide assistance that is possible within the framework of the law," Sinha said.

Gulf News, quoting Bidappa's wife Judy, Tuesday said the designer was found carrying two grams of marijuana. She told the paper her husband had gone to Dubai for business.

"I was in India when the incident happened. I learnt about it from a friend in Dubai. I spoke to Prasad. He told me that he is being treated well. But my main concern is on the number of days he will be detained by the police in Dubai," she said.

Judy admitted her husband occasionally smoked marijuana.

Asked whether she was aware if Bidappa smoked marijuana, she said: "Yes, once or twice a week. My husband will never carry marijuana to Dubai. It is not a deliberate act."

"It was a mistake. He is kicking himself for not cleaning his bag," said Judy, who is yet to contact the Indian mission here.

"If the need arises, I might come down to Dubai. We will follow up the matter. Right now my concern is also to protect my two teenaged children.

"The stress is too much and unbearable," said Judy. "We are law-abiding people and will accept the law of the land."

A family friend of Prasad, who is in Dubai to help the family, said: "I am sure it was not a deliberate act on his part. It was just a mistake."

Indian actor Vijay Raaz was held at Abu Dhabi airport earlier this year on drug charges but was later let off.

Meanwhile, Indian fashion designers and models Tuesday said they were making efforts to secure Bidappa's release.

Taking a cue from the release of Vijay Raaz, designers Rohit Bal, Sumeet Varma and Ashish Soni have started gathering details on how the actor was freed.

"We are trying to find out how Raaz was set free after spending nine days in Dubai where he was caught for allegedly carrying six grams of marijuana," a designer who did not want to be named told IANS in Bangalore.

"We want to work on the same system for Bidappa's release so that he can return to India early."
 
Raaz was held when he landed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to shoot for Vikram Bhatt's film "Diwaane Hue Paagal". He was allowed to return to Mumbai after a urine test revealed he was not using drugs.

Sources said designers and models planned to seek the help of UB Group chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Mallya.

"We are trying to reach out to anyone in the government who can help Bidappa return home early," a designer said.

Bidappa's friends in the fashion industry expressed shock at his arrest.

"We don't know how it (marijuana) landed in his baggage. We met for dinner Friday and Prasad told me he had a flight to catch to Dubai the next morning," said designer and friend Manoviraj Khosla.

"It's difficult to say whether he picked up somebody else's bag or if some model had smoked a joint and stuffed the rest into the bag."

According to designer Namrata G., Bidappa was never known as an addict but as a professional with an eye for spotting talent.

"He's a very responsible man. We have not seen him do anything to doubt that he is an addict. He has the eye to spot talent," she said.

Bidappa went to Dubai to sign a contract for an event he was to organise in the UAE capital.