14 hrs ago
Mumbai Court Acquits Man in MD Drug Case
A court in Mumbai cleared Raees Sayyed in a case involving a drug called MD.
Police said they found some of the drug with him and more at his home.
Sayyed’s lawyer said the searches were not conducted according to the law.
The law gives people certain protections during searches.
A witness gave a time for the house search that did not match the police officer’s account.
Because of these problems, the judge was not sure the search and seizure records were reliable.
The court therefore decided that the drug evidence could not be trusted enough to convict him.
Sayyed was acquitted.
Raees Sayyed was acquitted by a special NDPS court in Mumbai after alleged MD seizures from his person and residence were found doubtful.
The prosecution alleged that 50 grams of mephedrone was recovered from Sayyed on May 24, 2023, beneath Sion bridge.
Police later alleged that another 100 grams of MD was recovered from a wardrobe drawer at his home.
The court found inconsistencies in the house-search timing and said mandatory NDPS Act procedures were not followed.
The court ruled that the seizures could not be relied upon to establish Sayyed’s involvement.
- Who
- Raees Sayyed, who was prosecuted by the Mumbai Crime Branch.
- What
- A special NDPS court acquitted Sayyed in a case involving alleged seizures of mephedrone, also called MD.
- Where
- The alleged first seizure occurred beneath Sion bridge in Mumbai, and the second was allegedly made at Sayyed’s residence.
- When
- The alleged arrest occurred on May 24, 2023; the acquittal was reported on September 10, 2026.
- Why
- The court found procedural noncompliance under the NDPS Act and contradictory evidence about the timing of the house search.
Prosecution Case
Defense and Court Findings
Alleged drug recovery
Prosecution Case
The prosecution alleged that Sayyed was found with MD beneath Sion bridge and that 100 grams more was recovered from a drawer at his residence.
Defense and Court Findings
The defense denied that Sayyed carried the drug and argued that the substance had been planted in his home and that he had been falsely implicated.
Search procedure
Prosecution Case
Police records described a morning search after officers allegedly learned during questioning that drugs were present at Sayyed’s home.
Defense and Court Findings
The defense argued that Sayyed was not informed of his right to be searched before a Magistrate. The court also noted that the panch witness’s account placed the house search at a different time.
Reliability of evidence
Prosecution Case
The prosecution relied on the alleged personal and house seizures to establish Sayyed’s involvement in the case.
Defense and Court Findings
The court held that the procedural lapses and timing contradictions made the searches and seizures doubtful, so they could not be relied upon.
Key facts
- Accused
- Raees Sayyed
- Court
- Special NDPS court, Mumbai
- Arrest date
- May 24, 2023
- Alleged personal seizure
- The article’s introduction says 58 grams of MD, while the prosecution account says 50 grams.
- Alleged house seizure
- 100 grams of MD allegedly found in a wardrobe drawer.
- Key issue
- The court found gaps in search procedure and conflicting accounts of the house-search timing.
- Outcome
- Sayyed was acquitted.
Quotes
Independent panch witness
Witness to the house search and seizure proceedings
“Since panch witness did not support the house search panchnama timings and as there is noncompliance of provisions of NDPS Act, for this reason the search and seizure of the Narcotics MD drug from the person and house of accused appears to be doubtful and same cannot be relied upon to ascertain the complexity of the accused in the instant case.”
freepressjournal.in
“he was called at 19.00 hours at the house of accused on May 25, 2023, which is contradictory to the evidence of empowered officer. It is not known as to whether the search at the house of accused was conducted in morning or in the evening hours.”
freepressjournal.in
Shekhar Bhandari
Lawyer representing Raees Sayyed
“Accused was not appraised of his right to be searched before Magistrate. No such drug was carried by the accused as alleged. It is further argued that the drug came to be planted in the house of the accused and that he has been falsely implicated in the instant crime.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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