Maharashtra: Court denies bail to female drug smuggler

A special court in Mumbai, Maharashtra has denied bail to a woman arrested in a drug-related case. Stating that the crime is of a serious nature and her release could pose a threat to society’s interests. Priyanka Karkaur, a singer by profession, was detained in December 2023, along with others. For allegedly being involved in drug possession for business purposes. In a ruling earlier this month, special NDPS court judge Mahesh Jadhav noted that the drugs recovered from the accused indicated her active involvement in the crime. The court emphasized that the offense committed is of a heinous nature while rejecting her bail plea.

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Accused Denies Link to Recovered Cash in Maharashtra

In her petition, the accused woman claimed that the cash allegedly seized by the investigating agency was not connected to her. However, the prosecution countered this, stating that 14 grams of hashish were found in Priyanka Karkaur’s possession while she was in a car with a co-accused. Additionally, two Aadhar cards under different names and Rs 17,06,250 in cash were recovered from her residence.

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Prosecution Calls for Charges Under NDPS Act; Court Cites Accused’s Involvement

The prosecution argued that the quantity of drugs recovered qualifies as a commercial quantity, warranting charges under Section 37 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The court observed that the investigation indicates the accused’s involvement in drug smuggling in collaboration with co-accused individuals. At this stage, the accused has failed to provide prima facie evidence proving her non-involvement in the crime.

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Court Rejects Bail, Citing Societal Impact and Seriousness of Crime

The court stated that, given the facts, discussions, and evidence on record. Releasing the accused at this stage could be harmful to the broader interests of society. It emphasized that taking a lenient approach in granting bail for such offenses under the NDPS Act is inappropriate. The judge further noted that, considering the severity of the crime and the available evidence, there are no reasonable grounds to grant the accused bail at this stage.

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