Mumbai: Kenyan woman denied bail in heroin smuggling case, as court cites flight risk and potential repeat offence | Representational Image
Mumbai: The special NDPS court has refused to grant bail to a 25-year-old from Kenya booked in a drug case , observing that she may flee from the country and repeat the offence. Rukia Wanza was caught by Air Intelligence Unit, CSMI Airport, in March 2022 with 5,980 grams of heroin concealed in a trolley bag.
Almost three years after the incident, the defence had moved a bail claiming the applicant successfully cleared herself through green channel and other security checks. Nothing incriminating was detected in the security check. Besides, it was claimed that at the time of personal search only one panch was present, though the panchnama shows two panchas were present.
Further the defence had alleged that no field testing of seized articles was done to ascertain the nature of alleged contraband and there is no report of FSL.
The prosecution, however, stated that after she was caught, her statement was recorded in which she admitted to the possession, non-declaration, and recovery of off-white granules purported to be heroin. She was also aware that some illegal substances had been smuggled into India.
After hearing both sides, the court observed, “Prima facie, material on record shows that the accused is involved in selling contraband of commercial quantity. The court is of the opinion that there are no reasonable grounds that the accused is not likely to commit any offence while on bail.”