Conduct fresh drug test of samples: HC

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court (HC) recently allowed a fresh chemical analysis to be conducted in the mephedrone haul case involving alleged drug dealer Shashikala, also known as Baby Patankar, and some police personnel attached to the Marine Drive police station.

Justice PD Naik directed the special judge appointed for trying cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act to make appropriate arrangements so fresh samples can be sent to the forensic laboratories within three weeks.the forensic laboratory will be chosen by the prosecution.

The prosecution had approached the HC after the special NDPS court on August 17, 2015 rejected its plea to send the samples for fresh chemical analysis to a central forensic science laboratory. The plea was rejected after the report given by the lab in Kalina stated that no contraband material was detected in the samples. The 12 samples did not show any presence of mephedrone, lorazepam, nitrzepam, morphine, heroin, cocaine, methaqualone,

methylenedioxymethamphetamine, katamine or methamphetamine, the report stated.

The prosecution contended that Suhas Gokhale, senior police inspector of Marine Drive police station, who had been in touch with the main accused was involved in drawing out the samples. Moreover, Gokhale was himself made an accused in the case subsequently.