Couple acquitted due to shoddy investigation

Mumbai, July 6 (UNI) A special NDPS court today acquitted a couple from all charges levelled against them by the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) due to shoddy investigations.

Pronouncing the judgment, Additional Sessions Court Judge P N Deshmukh said -- Gulam Mohammed Haji Ismail and his wife Zarina -- were acquitted from all charges of allegedly possessing 1.8 kg of charas in 2002, as the prosecution had failed to prove charges against them.

The prosecution had booked them under section 29 r/w 8 (b), 20 (c) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Defence advocate Ayaiz Khan said the court found the address written in the First Information Report (FIR) incorrect, prime witnesses in the case were not examined by the prosecution and witnesses had given contradictory statements.

Mr Khan said on April 26, 2002, NCB sleuths had raided Reay Chamber at Dockyard road and seized 1.8 kg of Hashish from a flat and arrested accused Gulam and Zarina. They also recovered Rs 1,03,600 from the flat.

During interrogation Gulam said that one Abdul Rehman Sheikh (absconding), hailing from Kashmir was involved in drug smuggling.

UNI