Saji mixed ‘slaked lime’ in heroin in two seizures: NCB

Out of the 17 cases tallied with the initial testing report of seized heroin,negative quantitative variation was found in two of the hauls — a 16- kilogram heroin seizure in July 2007 and a 60-kilogram seizure in March 2008.

While in the first case,three polythene packets of drugs were found deficient,30 white cloth pouches were found short in the latter.

The tests were conducted in Central Revenue Control Laboratory at New Delhi.

These facts came to light on Thursday,when the 286-page chargesheet was submitted by the NCB in the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Gurmeet Ram Banyal.

The bulky chargesheet contains statements by five of the accused — NCB Director Saji Mohan,NCB Superintendent Balwinder Kumar,J & K police constables Davinder Pal Singh and Naveen Kumar and a drug peddler Naseeb Chand.

The NCB has moved an application for procuring production warrants for Saji Mohan on September 30.

Saji Mohan was booked by the Chandigarh Police under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on March 14,2009. The ATS Mumbai had first booked the officer after he was caught with 12 kg of heroin in January this year.

According to the chargesheet…

Saji Mohan: Pilfered and manipulated the contraband seized from various places in Punjab and Jammu. Slaked lime was added to the contraband to enhance its quantity. If possible,the mixing was carried out at the site of the seizure. In some cases,the contraband was brought to the office of NCB Zonal Director where it would be packed and sealed after mixing slaked lime in it. The subordinate staff was aware of the pilferage and cash seized from the spot was distributed among the residing staff. 10 kg of the heroin was handed over to Naseeb Chand,an alleged drug smuggler of Jammu.

Balwinder Kumar: NCB Superintendent. Used to actively help Saji Mohan in mixing slaked lime with heroin. He was arrested on the basis of the disclosure statements of constables Davinder Pal Singh and Naveen Kumar.

Davinder Pal Singh: Attached with Saji Mohan as PSO,constable of J& K police. He disclosed that he siphoned off 30 kg of heroin packed in 30 separate packets,which were kept in a red wooden box. This box was put in the dickey of Saji Mohan’s car in Jammu.

Naveen Kumar: Constable with J& K police and attached with Saji Mohan as PSO,he disclosed that Saji gave him Rs 10,000 when he was going to Cochin with his ‘household’ goods in December 2008. They visited Mumbai where Saji handed over a bag to a person in a red car. He,along with Balwinder,mixed lime in heroin and handed over the siphoned heroin to Saji Mohan.

Naseeb Chand: Formerly worked as an informer with the BSF,Customs,Central and Excise and other government agencies. He disclosed that Saji Mohan offered him Rs 50,000 per kg for sale of heroin in the open market and gave him Rs 1,000 as daily expenses. He said that Saji had also asked him to find a party to sell the heroin. On August 26,2008,Saji handed him 10 kg of heroin for sale in the open market but Naseeb handed it over to the Customs and Excise officials in Amritsar. Naseeb was given Rs 50,000 as a reward.