PANAJI
Israeli national Yaniv Benaim alias Atala surrendered before the North Goa Sessions Court at Merces on Wednesday in the narcotics case and was remanded to judicial custody at Colvale Central Jail.
Atala surrendered around noon, complying with the September 9 direction of the High Court of Bombay at Goa to appear before the trial court by September 16.
The High Court will hear on September 21 his petition challenging the rejection of his latest bail application. Advocate Manguirish Usgaonkar, representing Atala, said the court remanded him to judicial custody for 30 days pending the hearing of his bail plea before the High Court.
Atala had remained absent from proceedings after the North Goa Special NDPS Court rejected his fresh bail plea last month.
The Principal District and Sessions Judge, North Goa, subsequently ordered a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him, while a Look-Out Circular (LOC) was also issued.
The High Court directed his surrender while hearing his petition against the rejection of his bail plea.
After leaving court, Atala told reporters he had done nothing wrong and expressed confidence that he would get justice from the High Court.
He was arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) in April 2025 following a raid at his Siolim apartment, where the agency claimed to have recovered narcotic substances and Rs 8.7 lakh in cash.
