Special judge Shudhirkumar Murlidharrao Bukke will hear arguments on the quantum of sentence on Thursday after which the sentence will be pronounced
The case dates back to June 29, 2015, when police sub-inspector Narendra Trimbak Patil of the Anti-Terrorism Squad’s Charkop unit received specific information about the movement of MD in Oshiwara. An FIR was registered at the ATS police station in Kalachowki in the early hours of June 30, 2015, under provisions of NDPS Act. The prosecution said samples of the seized substances were sent to the chemical analyser’s office in Kalina, which confirmed the presence of mephedrone, a psychotropic substance notified under the NDPS Act by the Government of India on Feb 5, 2015.
A search conducted after completing NDPS Act formalities led to the recovery of 1kg of mephedrone from Bagul, according to the prosecution. Acting on the tip-off, an ATS team laid a trap near on Bhau Toraskar Marg in Jogeshwari West, where Bagul was intercepted.
Mumbai: A special NDPS court on Tuesday convicted six accused, including drug trafficker Sajid Yusufbhai Electricwala, in a 2015 case involving the manufacture of party drug mephedrone, commonly known as MD. Last week, More was sentenced to 15 years in jail in a separate case probed by the DRI in connection with the seizure of 238kg MD in 2017. Citing the previous conviction, Chimalkar will seek an enhanced sentence against More on Thursday under Section 31 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) Act, which provides that maximum prison sentence and fine for the repeat offence are increased by 1.5 times.
A seventh accused, Rajjak Rupani alias Chacha, alleged to be head of the syndicate, died during the pendency of the trial and the case against him was abated. He is in custody in that case. During the investigation, the ATS arrested Khan after his alleged role emerged. The prosecution claimed Khan had financially assisted Electricwala in the manufacture and sale of MD, following which Section 27A of the NDPS Act, relating to financing illicit traffic, was added to the case. The three other accused, also found to be part of the crime, were absconding and subsequently arrested.
Special judge Shudhirkumar Murlidharrao Bukke will hear arguments on the quantum of sentence on Thursday after which the sentence will be pronounced.