Citing lack of concrete evidence Court releases Tulihal drug seizure accused
On security ground, Col and others not produced before Court
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 22 2013:
Even as a Court has freed Md Rajauddin, who was said to be the owner of the huge consignment of drugs seized from Imphal airport, Col Ajay Choudhry and six other accused who were held with drugs worth Rs 25 crore at Pallel did not come to Court, on security ground, although they were asked to appear before the same Court today.
According to a source, Md Rajauddin (29) s/o Hiyazuddin of Lilong Sambrukhong was released by an order issued by the Judge, NDPS Special Court Manipur on March 19 .
The order observed that there was no concrete evidence to prove the charges levelled against Rajauddin.
Notably, police claimed that the drug consignment worth Rs 1.40 crore seized from Tulihal Airport belonged to Rajauddin.
Apart from dismissing the charges levelled against Rajauddin, the Court cited certain other reasons for freeing the accused.
Incidentally, the Special Intelligence Unit set up under Imphal West District Police led by its OC Inspector Ranjit seized the drug consignment as unclaimed objects on January 11 .
The SIU was disbanded the same day and its OC Ranjit was transferred elsewhere.
A statement issued by the Imphal West SP eleven days later on January 22 disclosed that the consignment included 32,250 strips of Robocoff tablets, 2680 strips of Respifed tablets and 5470 strips of Seafield tablets, all having Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride contents.
It also informed that Rajauddin, the main accused of the drug trafficking case was apprehended on January 14 .
While civil society organisations were demanding revelation of the real identity of the drug smuggler(s), Thoubal commandos apprehended six persons including Col Ajay Chowdhry together with drugs worth Rs 25 crore at Pallel on February 24 .
The next evening, Seikholen Haokip, son of a sitting Congress MLA was pulled up from his home by Thoubal Police in connection with the same drug case.
According to the latest order issued by the Judge, NDPS Special Court Manipur on March 12, they are being lodged in judicial custody.
However citing security reasons they were not produced before the Court today even though they were directed to appear before the Court today.
The seven accused in the drug trafficking case are Col Ajay Chowdhry, Indigo Airlines Assistant Manager Ng Brojendro, Seikholen Haokip, Haopu Haokip, Minthang Doungel, Minal Haokip and 165 TA personnel RK Babloo.