1 week ago
Supreme Court Refuses to Cancel Bail in Mundra Drugs Case
The case is about a very large shipment of heroin found at Mundra port.
Officials say the drugs came from Afghanistan through Iran.
The shipment was hidden in bags described as semi-processed talc stones.
The National Investigation Agency accused several people of being involved.
One accused, Harpreet Singh Talwar, was given bail by the Gujarat High Court.
The NIA asked the Supreme Court to cancel that bail.
The Supreme Court refused to cancel it at this stage.
However, it said bail could be cancelled if Talwar tries to influence witnesses.
The court also said other accused must have their bail requests considered separately.
The Supreme Court declined the National Investigation Agency’s plea to cancel Harpreet Singh Talwar’s bail.
The case concerns the September 2021 seizure of 2,988.21 kilograms of heroin at Mundra port.
The NIA alleged the consignment was imported from Afghanistan through Iran and was linked to terror financing.
The court said the NIA could seek bail cancellation if Talwar influences witnesses.
It also ruled that other accused cannot automatically claim bail on parity with Talwar’s case.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, the National Investigation Agency, and accused Harpreet Singh Talwar alias Kabir Talwar.
- What
- The court refused to cancel Talwar’s bail in the Mundra port heroin seizure case.
- Where
- The drugs were seized at Mundra port after arriving from Afghanistan through Bandar Abbas in Iran.
- When
- The Supreme Court ruling was reported on August 20; the seizure occurred in September 2021.
- Why
- The NIA sought bail cancellation because it described the alleged offences as grave and raised concerns about witness influence and alleged terror financing.
National Investigation Agency
Supreme Court and Bail Position
Whether bail should be cancelled
National Investigation Agency
The NIA argued that the alleged offences were extremely serious, carried a possible life sentence, and involved transnational narco-terrorism. It also called Talwar a habitual offender and expressed concern that witnesses could be influenced or killed.
Supreme Court and Bail Position
The Supreme Court declined to cancel the bail at this stage, while stating that the NIA could seek cancellation if Talwar influences witnesses.
Effect on other accused
National Investigation Agency
The NIA asked the court to ensure that the Gujarat High Court’s bail order would not become a precedent for other accused seeking bail on similar grounds.
Supreme Court and Bail Position
The Supreme Court said other accused cannot claim bail automatically on parity with Talwar because several witnesses remain to be examined; their applications must be decided on their own merits.
Alleged conspiracy
National Investigation Agency
The NIA alleged that the shipment was part of an international conspiracy involving Pakistan’s ISI, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and terror financing.
Supreme Court and Bail Position
The reported court order focused on the bail question and did not cancel Talwar’s bail based on those allegations.
Key facts
- Drug seizure
- 2,988.21 kilograms of heroin
- Reported value
- Approximately Rs 21,000 crore
- Seizure location
- Mundra port
- Seizure date
- September 2021
- Accused
- Harpreet Singh Talwar alias Kabir Talwar, identified as accused no. 24
- Bail decision
- The Gujarat High Court granted Talwar bail on April 10; the Supreme Court declined to cancel it
- Alleged route
- Afghanistan to Bandar Abbas, Iran, and then to India
- Investigation scale
- The chargesheet exceeded 20,000 pages and cited more than 500 witnesses
Quotes
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati
Senior lawyer representing the National Investigation Agency
“"The proceedings show that the mastermind of the instant narco‑terror is Pakistan’s ISI and Pakistan‑backed banned terrorist organisation Lashkar‑e‑Taiba."”
theprint.in
“"The NIA can seek cancellation of Talwar’s bail if he influences the witnesses."”
theprint.in
Sources
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