2 get bail in drugs haul case

Mumbai, Mar 6 (UNI) A special court here today granted bail to a company executive Umesh Bangur and a clearing agent Vijay Anand Thorave who are embroiled in a Rs 200 crore drugs seizure case.

Additional sessions judge P C Bawaskar granted bail to the two upon furnishing Rs two lakh each. The court directed the duo to surrender their passports before the police.

The police seized 200 kg of cocaine from a cargo vessel from near the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) port last year. The contraband was stocked in eight gunnysacks which were concealed among a consignment of wooden logs meant for a company, OPM International Private Limited. The seized cocaine was valued at Rs 200 crore in the international market.

Thirteen persons were arrested in this connection including Omprakash Nogaja, managing director of OPM International Private Limited. Bangur and Thorave were allegedly involved in the conspiracy.

The defence counsel, while arguing for bail, contended that there was no substantial evidence against his clients and, therefore, they should be enlarged on bail.

UNI