Court rejects ABA of 7 drug dealers

Mumbai, May 6: Additional Sessions Judge S P Davare rejected the anticipatory bail application of all the seven drug dealers, who had approached the court fearing arrest in connection with the sale of ''Kelamine Hydrochloride''.

However, the applicants immediately approached Bombay High court challenging the lower court order.

The High Court, which stayed the matter till May 15, yesterday directed the police not to arrest them till the matter is heard.

According to prosecution, drugs and cosmetics authorities had received information that about one ton Kelamine was seized in China which had been smuggled from India.

On the basis of this information, the authorities made a market survey which found the dealers having sold 5,947 kg of 'Kelamine Hydrochlrodie', a raw material for anaesthetic medicine worth around Rs 5.51 crore, to third parties without the requisite licence.

A case was registered against seven drug dealers -- Manish Bhavesh, Kiran Thaker, Chandrakant Thakker, Chetan Parekh, Ashok Desai, Sanjay Shirsat and Divesh Parekh -- under Indian Penal Code and Drugs and Cosmetic Act.

UNI