Madhya Pradesh police constable gets clean chit in 25,000 kg opium haul case

Advocate Vikalp Sharma appearing for Kumawat pointed out to the tribunal that properties were frozen as Kumawat was charge-sheeted in NDPS case along with the other accused persons. He further informed the tribunal that his client had been acquitted by a trial court and no appeal was filed by the state against the order of acquittal.

The tribunal, therefore, dismissed CBN’s plea while noting that no appeal was pending against Kumawat and that the trial court’s order acquitting him had attained finality.

The CBN alleged that Kumawat misused his official position to facilitate the transport of narcotics and provide security to the consignments. It was further alleged that he earned large sums of money from the illicit trade, routing the proceeds through various bank accounts belonging to his mother and sister.

It came on record that properties belonging to Kumawat and his family members were attached and frozen for allegedly being acquired from the proceeds of drug trafficking.

Kumawat challenged the freezing and attachment orders which came to be set aside later by the competent authority in Mumbai. The CBN filed an appeal against this order before the appellate tribunal. Meanwhile the trial court, in March 2025, acquitted Kumawat of all charges while convicting the other accused persons in the case under the NDPS Act for 15 years.

Subsequently the tribunal dismissed the appeal filed by CBN.

Advocate Sharma said that “the CBN had proceeded on incorrect assumptions without verifying the financial documents, bank records, and property papers that clearly showed legitimate sources of income.”

His also said that Kumawat was suspended after the case was registered against him and his plea for reinstatement is still pending.