Bail plea of accused absconding for 20 months in NDPS case rejected: Patan Sessions Court decides in opium supply case; A case was registered at Varahi police station in Santalpur.

The Patan Sessions Court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Shivabhai Danabhai Patel, an accused who has been absconding for 20 months in an offence under the NDPS Act. The case was registered at Varahi police station in Santalpur. A total of Rs 20,525 worth of contraband including 341 grams of opium (Rs 8,525), 68 grams of opium juice (Rs 6,800), digital weighing scales, empty boxes and mobile phones were seized from the house of co-accused Hemrajbhai. Investigations revealed that the opium was supplied by Shivabhai of Beda. Advocate J. D. Thakkar argued that the accused had been absconding for 20 months. The bail granted would affect the police investigation. Judge Dhiren Chauhan heard the arguments of both sides. Since the accused has been absconding for a long time and his interrogation is necessary for investigation, the court rejected Shivabhai's bail plea considering the gravity of the crime, in the interest of the society.