In Sessions

Diamond workers' bail plea rejected Principal sessions Judge A S Aguiar on Wednesday rejected the anticipatory bail applications of six empl...

Diamond workers8217; bail plea rejected

Principal sessions Judge A S Aguiar on Wednesday rejected the anticipatory bail applications of six employees of a diamond firm, including its managing director, charged with illegally bringing in and removing diamonds and raw materials from the firm8217;s factory and misappropriating money worth crores. On March 11, Customs officers attached to the Santacruz Electronic Export Processing Zone SEEPZ seized a vehicle containing raw materials worth Rs 1.53 lakh from an employee of Shreeji Gems in front of the warehouse gate at SEEPZ. The goods were being unauthorisedly taken out of the unit.

A seizure of similar goods valued at Rs 1.22 lakh was also made the same day by Customs officials from the godown of the same firm at Reheja Complex, Malad. The goods had been taken out of the Shreeji Gems unit at SEEPZ.Customs officers found capital goods and raw materials worth Rs 2.94 lakh and 118.61-carat cut and polished diamonds worth Rs 1.04 crore had been removedunauthorisedly.

Also, 99 seven-carat cut and polished diamonds had been brought to the unit from outside and kept in place of the imported diamonds which had been taken out. The diamonds were later seized under provisions of the Customs Act.

On March 14, nearly 98.04 carats of cut and polished diamonds were seized from the firm8217;s premises as they had been brought unauthorisedly from outside. Subsequently, a case was registered against the six accused.

10-year RI for contract killer

Additional Sessions Judge A M Thipsay on Wednesday sentenced Mohammed Qureshi to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for assaulting a person with a chopper at Bandra railway station. According to special public prosecutor Mohan Katavkar, Qureshi had attacked the person on April 17, 1995. Qureshi was given a contract for assaulting the person. After striking his victim, Qureshi fled towards Khar but was nabbed by a constable and was taken to the railway police station. The victim deposed against Qureshi incourt.

Drug peddler gets 10-year RI

In another case, a drug peddler Mohammed Khan was sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs one lakh by Special Judge of the NDPS court A D Killare. However, his accomplice Noorbanu Pathan was acquitted. The State will appeal against Pathan8217;s acquittal.

According to special public prosecutor S R Desai, the police were tipped off that on September 1, 1995, Yasin and Inamullah M H Khan would deliver hashish to parties at Lucky Emporium near Govandi railway station.

In a trap laid the duo was caught red handed with 3.5 kgs of the contraband valued at Rs 40,000. This also led to the arrest of Afzal Abu Hussain who disclosed that the goods were to be supplied to one Guddu Kamruddin Khan.