Freed on PR bond
Source: The Sangai Express

Jiribam, November 27 2017: Deepak Sharma, who was arrested by Anti Smuggling Unit Imphal Customs Division for illegal possession of six gold biscuits, was released by Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West after furnishing a PR bond of Rs 5 lakh today.

Yesterday, the accused, Deepak Sharma s/o Chinman Lai of Ganganagar, Rajasthan, was produced before the Court, Customs Division Imphal, with a prayer for 15 days judicial custody.

Officers of the Anti Smuggling Unit Customs Division submitted before the Court that at around 9.37 am of November 25, the accused was detained by CISF personnel at the check in point of Kolkata Indigo flight at Tulihal International airport and accordingly the Customs Officers were informed by the CISF personnel.

The security personnel also recovered six gold biscuits, weighing around 996 grams in total and valued at around Rs 30,87,600, concealed in his rectum after wrapping it with carbon papferand adhesive tape.

During the course of the investigation, Deepak Sharma revealed that he is a cable mechanic by profession and not the real owner of the seized gold biscuit.

He claimed that the real owner of the gold biscuits is one Sonu Singh of Titagarh Kolkata, West Bengal and on his direction he (Deepak) had come to Imphal on November 24 .

Deepak further revealed that he was asked to meet one Thomas of Senapati by Sonu Singh and as such he made a call to Thomas after arriving at Imphal and on his (Thomas) instruction, he directly went to Senapati from the airport and stayed the night there.

The next morning, at around 6, Thomas handed him the gold biscuits in two packets of three gold biscuits each, wrapped in carbon paper and blacked adhesive tape and asked him to conceal the items in his rectum.

According to the submission, Deepak also revealed that he agreed to carry the gold biscuits to earn some quick cash (Rs 20,000 as carry charge) and he did not know the address or details of Thomas.

The Court was satisfied by the prima facie case against the accused for the offence but stated that the said offence is a bailable offence and hence, Deepak was released after executing a PR bond of Rs 5 lakh with a surety like amount.

The Court also directed Customs Division (P) Imphal to keep the seized gold biscuits in its custody and to send a sample for necessary test.

The accused had failed to furnish the PR bond yesterday and as a result was remanded to judicial custody till December 8.However, after executing the bail amount and the surety by the counsel, the Court today passed an order to release the accused and directed him to appear before the Court on December 8 .

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