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In Gujarat heroin smuggling case, NIA submits charge sheet against Lawrence Bishnoi

A Pakistani fishing boat was intercepted by the Gujarat ATS and the Indian Coast Guard on September 14, 2018, in the Kutch district’s Jakhau harbour and 40 kg of heroin valued at over Rs 200 crore was confiscated

SNS | New Dehi | October 19, 2023 7:29 pm

In Gujarat heroin smuggling case, NIA submits charge sheet against Lawrence Bishnoi

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi (Photo: X)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) charged gangster Lawrence Bishnoi on Thursday in connection with the Gujarat Police’s recovery of almost 39 kg of heroin.

In addition to the provisions of the Information Technology Act, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 465 (forgery), and 471 (fraud), the agency has also filed the supplementary charge sheet in a special court.

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On September 15, 2022, the Ahmedabad Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) first filed a formal complaint (FIR) in this case.

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“On August 20, 2023, the case was again registered after the NIA assumed charge of it. The NIA spokeswoman stated that the inquiry into this matter is still ongoing.

A Pakistani fishing boat was intercepted by the Gujarat ATS and the Indian Coast Guard on September 14, 2018, in the Kutch district’s Jakhau harbour. About 40 kilogrammes of heroin valued at over Rs 200 crore was found on board. On board the yacht, known as “Al Tayyasa,” six Pakistani nationals were also taken into custody.

Further inquiries disclosed that the heroin shipment was intended to be driven to northern areas like Punjab and Delhi, aided by two residents of Delhi named Sartaj Malik and Jaggi Singh, also known as Virpal Singh, who were to accept the illegal goods. Their arrest followed.

During the eight-day interrogation process, it was discovered that while incarcerated, drug traffickers Meeraz Rehmani and Ani Chief Obinna, also known as Chief, were operating the racket.

Rehmani was detained at Obinna in Amritsar and a prison in Kapurthala. It is said that Bishnoi was ordering both of them to do their jobs.

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The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010. A division bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice P V Balakrishnan suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail to him after considering his appeal against the NIA court’s conviction in the case Considering the prolonged detention and citing the potential for trial delays, the court suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail, taking into account that some co-accused with similar allegations had already been released after serving shorter terms. The court noted that he had already spent nine years in jail and that delays in resolving appeals could justify suspending a convict’s prison term. It also observed that other accused in the case had received lesser sentences and had already been released after serving their terms. “The applicant has been undergoing incarceration, at the pre-conviction and post-conviction phases, for over 9 years. Furthermore, the fact that the accused facing the same allegations were earlier imposed a lesser term of imprisonment and have been released after having undergone the sentence is a factor that cannot be ignored. Additionally, the appeals filed by the NIA against the findings of the learned Sessions Judge are being considered in separate appeals, which have not yet been taken up. “There is also the likelihood of delay, as the prime accused has surrendered, and the learned Sessions Judge may have to take up the trial and dispose of it in accordance with the law and some of the original records may be required for that purpose. In view of these facts and circumstances, we are of the considered opinion that the sentence imposed on the applicant can be suspended pending the consideration of the appeal.” The court said The court, however, imposed strict conditions for Nasar’s bail. He is not supposed to provide a bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties, refrain from leaving the country without the court’s permission, avoid interfering with the trial or witnesses, and not commit similar offences while on bail The gruesome incident dates back to July 4, 2010, when Joseph, a professor at Newman College, Thodupuzha, was returning from Sunday mass with his family, members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) attacked him, allegedly in retaliation for a question paper he set, which contained a passage that they claimed insulted Prophet Mohammed was derogatory. His right hand was chopped off in this attack. Nasar was accused of playing a critical role in the attack. Investigations revealed his involvement in recruiting gang members, assigning specific tasks, collecting funds, procuring communication devices, and maintaining communication links with key conspirators.

The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010.