Archive · 9 Aug 2026
NDPS Court Denies Bail to New Mom in Cocaine Case
A woman was stopped at the airport in Mumbai, India, with a large amount of a dangerous drug hidden inside chocolate and cookie packets.
Police and customs officers took her to jail.
She has a baby girl who is only seven months old.
The baby was born early and has trouble breathing.
The mother asked the court to let her out of jail so she could take care of her baby.
Her lawyer said she did not know the sweet packets had drugs inside.
The officials said she was caught with more than six kilograms of cocaine.
They also said she may have been involved in drug smuggling before.
The court said there was not enough medical proof that her baby truly needed her.
So the court decided she must stay in jail for now.
A special NDPS court denied bail to Pooja Lal, a 33-year-old Naigaon resident arrested last year at Mumbai's international airport with over 6 kg of cocaine hidden in chocolate and cookie packets.
Lal's lawyer argued there was no evidence proving she was aware the packets contained contraband.
The defence said her seven-month-old daughter, born prematurely and suffering from respiratory distress, needed her mother's presence.
DRI prosecutor Vibhavari Pathak opposed the plea, citing Lal's alleged admission to earlier involvement in smuggling and noting she had been granted interim bail in April.
The court said there was an 'absence of sufficient medical evidence showing exceptional circumstances' warranting bail, noting medical facilities exist at Byculla Women's Jail.
- Who
- Pooja Lal, a 33-year-old resident of Naigaon, and her seven-month-old daughter; DRI prosecutor Vibhavari Pathak argued the case.
- What
- A special NDPS court denied bail to Pooja Lal, who was caught with over 6 kg of cocaine concealed in packets of chocolates and cookies.
- When
- The arrest took place last year; the bail plea has been rejected recently.
- Where
- Mumbai's international airport; Lal is held at Byculla Women's Jail.
- Why
- The court found an 'absence of sufficient medical evidence showing exceptional circumstances' to justify bail, and the defence's claim that the baby needed her mother was not medically certified.
Defence
Prosecution
Bail on maternal grounds
Defence
Lal's seven-month-old premature daughter suffers respiratory distress and requires her mother's presence for care.
Prosecution
No medical opinion certifies that Lal's presence is indispensable for the child, and adequate medical facilities for women and infants are available at Byculla Women's Jail.
Knowledge of the contraband
Defence
There is no evidence proving Lal was aware that the chocolate and cookie packets contained cocaine.
Prosecution
Lal allegedly admitted to involvement in smuggling earlier as well, suggesting prior knowledge and participation.
- Accused
- Pooja Lal, 33, Naigaon resident
- Contraband
- Over 6 kg of cocaine
- Concealment method
- Packets of chocolates and cookies
- Arrest location
- Mumbai international airport
- Arrest time
- Last year
- Child
- Seven-month-old daughter, born prematurely, with respiratory distress
- Prosecutor
- DRI prosecutor Vibhavari Pathak
- Detention facility
- Byculla Women's Jail