Court rejects anticipatory bail of two accused in cough syrup bust case
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 07 2022: Special Court ND&PS today rejected the anticipatory bail applications filed by two accused in connection with the seizure of huge quantity of cough syrup by a team of Imphal West Commando on May 22, 2022 at Naharup Thongkhong.

The two different anticipatory bail applications was filed by accused Md Abdul Rajak (45), s/o Md Abdul Manal of Porompat Pangal Leirak and Md Abdul Rahaman (35), s/o Md Abdul Salam of Kshetri Bengoon Makha Leikai for granting them pre-arrest bail in connection with the case.

The counsel of Md Rajak submitted that the petitioner is a social worker and is currently the president of a local club.

The police had raided the house belonging to the co-accused Md Abdul Rahaman on May 22 and a Gypsy was seized from which the contraband substances were found, but the petitioner has nothing to do with the said vehicle, he added.

On the other hand IO of the case submitted the objection report of the anticipatory bail applications and the Special PP who submitted that on May 22 at around 1.30am based on the specific information about the presence of armed anti social elements disturbing general normalcy and law and order of common people in and around Naharup and its adjourning villagers the team of Imphal East commando had rushed to the spot and conducted foot patrolling and random frisking and checking of suspected passerby and all of a sudden one unknown person suspected to be holding fire arms was spotted approaching toward the police team and when the police team shouted to halt the unknown persons turned backward and started shouting and inform his associate about the approaching of police team toward them immediately unknown person was overpowered and at the same time some associate of arrested persons was seen trying to flee in a Tata Super Ace four wheeler parked at a distance away.

The police team overpower the driver of the vehicle but some of their associate escaped taking advantage of darkness.

One double barrel loaded with two live rounds was found abandoned in the area.

One checking the vehicle some cartoon boxes containing 12,887 bottles of Rukscof Bottles, 488 Codiwar Bottles and 25 Cofisaint bottles altogether 13,400 numbers of bottles of cough syrup were seized and arrested the driver who is Juvenile and Md Zaved Kalam 21 s/o Md Kalam of Kshetri Bengoon Makha Leikai who is nephew of alleged accused petitioner Md Abdul Rahaman.

APP further stated that during the course of investigation arrested persons disclosed that they were asked by the accused/ petitioners to unload the seized cough syrups from the seized vehicle as the said vehicle were damaged and not able to drive and the juvenile was told to stay in the vehicle while the Maruti Gypsy was arranged to pull the seized vehicle loaded with cough syrups and the other two seized vehicles were brought by the two contraband owner alleged accused/ petitioners for escorting during the transportation.

Special PP also submitted that sources of the contraband cough syrup bottles, the owner of the cars, owners of the double barrel gun are yet to be verified and enquiry was also made by the drug controller medical directorate to identified the dealers of the seized cough syrups who helped to bring huge quantity and the result is awaited.

Special PP further submits that attempts were made to arrest the alleged accused persons/ petitioners but not fruitful even after conducting house search twice and it is suspected that alleged accused persons are deliberately evading arrest and prayed for rejecting the anticipatory bail applications.

Court after hearing the submission of the Special PP and counsels of the accused in length rejected the anticipatory bail applications.

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