‘Simply remanding would be violating fundamental right'

CRUISE DRUG BUST: IN THE COURT

- Swati Deshpande

Mumbai: After a lengthy hearing in the drugs seizure case, additional chief metropolitan magistrate R M Nerlikar said in his order at around 7 pm, “No doubt it is the duty of NCB to investigate, but simply remanding accused to police custody would be violating fundamental right of accused under the Constitution.” The court committed the matter to sessions court.

NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede had led a team of NCB officers for a raid last Saturday at the International Terminal at Mumbai Port Trust, from where a cruise liner was to depart for Goa. The team intercepted Khan and others, found no drugs on Khan, but claim to have found 6 grams of charas on Merchant and 5 grams on co-accused Munmun Dhamecha’s cabin floor, along with several other recoveries from others. Merchant’s counsel Taraq Sayed said neither his client nor Khan had any connections with the other accused.

The NCB sought further custody of Khan and the others, saying the case was one of “criminal conspiracy” and Aachit Kumar, a fresh accused, was arrested on Wednesday based on Khan’s statement. Also, a foreign national had been “intercepted” and the 8 accused needed to be confronted with Kumar as the aim is to probe further to crack down on supply chain and end the gang, NCB said.