Hyderabad woman, 3 others acquitted; doubts on NCB case

The NCB had claimed that it had received secret information about Begum carrying contraband and made the seizure of 2.9 kg of charas from her trolley bag at the airport.

The documents, however, showed that it was officials of the CISF who had alerted the NCB after noticing suspicious images during the screening of the trolley bag Begum was carrying and recovering contraband from a false bottom created in the bag.

“The evidence on seizure by NCB and CISF witnesses is thus contradictory with each other. These material contradictions create serious doubt about the case of the prosecution,” the court said in its order in April which was made available on Tuesday.

Among the other discrepancies considered by the court was that although the area where Begum was apprehended at the airport had CCTV cameras, the investigating officer of the NCB did not procure it as evidence from the airport authorities.

“It is surprising to see that IO (investigating officer) failed to bring on record CCTV coverage of the airport though available, which could be an important piece of evidence,” the court said.

It also said that X-ray images of the trolley bag were also not produced as evidence. The court also considered other discrepancies including on labels of evidence. It also agreed with the contention of the accused’s lawyers that while a Crime Register Number is only assigned after a seizure when the FIR is registered, the trolley bag had the CR number written on it at the time of the seizure.

“There are several discrepancies in the documents produced on record by the prosecution which raises doubt about the genuineness of the case of the prosecution and accused no.1 (Begum) is entitled to get benefit of doubt,” the court said.

Three others booked as suppliers of the charas seized were also acquitted as the court said that there was no evidence on record to show that they had conspired together to commit the offence.