Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Taking a stern stance against the rising number of drug-related offences in Goa, the Additional Sessions Court at Merces has rejected the bail plea of Maqsood Ahmad, a Kashmiri native arrested in August for possession of narcotics worth around ₹7 lakh during a police raid in Assagao.
Police had seized 1,770 grams of ganja valued at ₹1.7 lakh, 56 grams of hydroponic ganja worth ₹5.6 lakh, and ₹7 lakh in cash from the accused. The chargesheet in the case has already been filed, and this was Ahmad’s second bail attempt, his earlier plea having been rejected.
Judge Kshama Joshi, in her order dated October 29, observed that releasing the accused could lead to repetition of the offence, given the surge in NDPS cases. The court also noted that Ahmad’s claimed income from jewellery and dry fruit sales lacked documentary proof, and the unexplained ₹7 lakh cash could be proceeds from drug trafficking.
Public Prosecutor S. Sawant opposed the bail, citing that Ahmad is a habitual offender previously involved in two NDPS cases, and granting bail would send a wrong signal to society.
