This is an archive article published on January 15, 2018
Court rejects Narcotics Control Bureau staffer’s bail plea
A special court designated under the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances Act denied bail to Pravinta Wasnik stating that she had not been able to explain or disclose how she came in contact with co-accused Gulam Hussain, an alleged drug dealer as per the NCB.
The NCB submitted in court that since the agency did not possess a test kit for Mephedrone, they had believed the words of Hussain to identify the drug when the samples were seized from him. (Representational Image)
A YEAR after a staffer of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was arrested by the agency she worked for, a special court in Mumbai rejected her bail application saying she had involved herself in storage, sale, and transport of contraband material from her official quarter.
A special court designated under the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances Act denied bail to Pravinta Wasnik stating that she had not been able to explain or disclose how she came in contact with co-accused Gulam Hussain, an alleged drug dealer as per the NCB. It further said she was the ‘main brain’ behind the crime.
On January 11, 2017, Hussain was arrested by the NCB with 200 grams of banned drug Mephedrone in his pocket. Another 495 grams of the drug was recovered from the Honda Activa he was riding, which was registered in Wasnik’s name. He also allegedly led the NCB to her official government quarters in Wadala, where the agency claimed it seized another 228 grams of the contraband.
Wasnik, who was arrested on January 12, had sought bail after the samples sent to the Hyderabad Central Forensic Science Laboratory did not show any trace of Mephedrone, also known as party drug ‘Meow Meow’. While one of the samples showed traces of methamphetamine, another detected aspirin.
The NCB submitted in court that since the agency did not possess a test kit for Mephedrone, they had believed the words of Hussain to identify the drug when the samples were seized from him. The NCB also submitted that both the accused were involved in drug trafficking. “…there is absolutely no explanation on record from the mouth of accused no. 2 (Wasnik) as to how Honda Activa motorcycle came into possession of accused no. 1 (Hussain) who was found in possession of contraband substance with him as well as the dicky of the motorcycle,” the court said.
The court also held the fact that a weighing scale was found in Wasnik’s official quarters as a factor against her. While the defence claimed that many people would have a scale machine at their home, the court observed, “scale machine at official quarter as found can be seen from different angle as it was being used for carrying weight of contraband substance. It is true that many of the citizens or people at large may use weigh machine but when they are not involved in storage of contraband. Therefore, use of weigh machine at their homes is permissible.”
On Wasnik’s submission that she and her co-accused had retracted statements made before the NCB and that there was no independent material to show her involvement, the court held that it could not be stated at the bail stage that the value of the statement had completely vanished. The court also rejected Wasnik’s contention that while the NCB had claimed that she was addicted to drugs, no test was conducted on her.
Sadaf Modak is a distinguished Legal Correspondent based in Mumbai whose work demonstrates exceptional Expertise and Authority in covering the intricacies of the judicial and correctional systems. Reporting for The Indian Express, she is a highly Trustworthy source for in-depth coverage of courtroom proceedings and human rights issues.
Expertise
Specialized Role: As a dedicated Legal Correspondent, Sadaf Modak possesses deep, specialized knowledge of legal procedures, statutes, and judicial operations, lending immense Authority to her reports.
Core Authority & Focus: Her work primarily centers on:
Trial Court Proceedings: She mainly covers the trial courts of Mumbai, providing crucial, on-the-ground reporting on the day-to-day legal processes that affect citizens. She maintains a keen eye on both major criminal cases and the "ordinary and not so ordinary events" that reveal the human element within the justice system.
Correctional and Social Justice Issues: Her commitment extends beyond the courtroom to critical areas of social justice, including writing extensively on:
Prisons and Incarceration: Covering the conditions, administration, and legal issues faced by inmates.
Juvenile Justice: Reporting on the complexities of the juvenile justice system and the legal rights of children.
Human Rights: Focusing on fundamental human rights within the context of law enforcement and state institutions.
Experience
Institutional Affiliation: Reporting for The Indian Express—a leading national newspaper—ensures her coverage is subject to high editorial standards of accuracy, impartiality, and legal rigor.
Impactful Detail: Her focus on trial courts provides readers with direct, detailed insights into the workings of the justice system, making complex legal narratives accessible and establishing her as a reliable and trusted chronicler of the legal landscape.
Sadaf Modak's blend of judicial focus and commitment to human rights issues establishes her as a vital and authoritative voice in Indian legal journalism.
She tweets @sadafmodak ... Read More
3 min read
The NCB submitted in court that since the agency did not possess a test kit for Mephedrone, they had believed the words of Hussain to identify the drug when the samples were seized from him. (Representational Image)
