As per the reports, NCB invoked Section 27A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against Showik, which means, if the charge is proved, a person can get a jail term of 20 years. However, the court ruled out that Section 27A does not apply to Showik. "Considering the role of the present applicant as alleged, I find that… Section 27A of NDPS Act does not apply to the case of the applicant," stated the court as reported by The Indian Express.
The report further states that the court drew parallels to the Bombay High Court's observation while granting bail to Rhea Chakraborty. The HC had then stated that procuring drugs does not mean that Rhea financed illicit drug trafficking. In the case of Showik, the special NDPS court also mentioned that no drugs were obtained from him.
"The ingredients of Section 27A of the NDPS Act are absent in the case of applicant. The recovery of contraband from accused Anuj Keswani has no concern with the applicant. Therefore, in the present case stringent provision of Section 37 of NDPS Act do not apply,"the court said, as reported. (Also Read: Sushant Singh Rajput's Death Case: House Help Dipesh Accuses NCB Of Illegal Detention; Files Complaint Demanding Rs 10 Lakh In Compensation)
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