Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Tuesday granted bail to Ellena Kasakatira, a foreign national, in a case involving the possession of a commercial amount of cocaine. Justice Manish Pitale granted bail to Kasakatira, who was arrested on Nov 23, 2020, in connection with a case registered with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Mumbai, under the Special NDPS Act.
The case against her was that when she arrived at the international airport, she was confronted based on a tip-off and although nothing was found on her person during a personal search, cocaine was allegedly found in a trolley bag in two packets weighing about 500 grams each, according to the prosecution.
Her lawyer argued that her signature was not taken on the panchanama at the airport.
The high court stated: “It is significant that the said document (seizure panchanama) at no place bears the signatures of the accused.” The court added, “There is substance in the contention raised on behalf of the applicant that this can prove to be fatal to the case of the prosecution.” Also noting that the foreign national had no criminal antecedents and was in custody for four years, the court granted her cash bail of Rs 1 lakh.