PANAJI
Two accused individuals involved in a drugs case, who cited trial's delay and vulnerability to the virus in the Colvale Central Jail, are denied bail. Sessions Judge Sherin Paul hinted these were irrelevant grounds for their release.
In October 2020, a family of four at Pernem, Rushikesh Kerkar, Shivaji Kerkar, Rama Kerkar and Rashmi Kerkar were booked for allegedly carrying out the drug activities.
Following the raid in their premises at Thorlebad, Keri, Pernem police claimed they seized cannabis plants of 2.29 kg worth Rs 5 lakh, along with 1.32 kg Ganja worth about Rs 1.30 lakh and 2.55 kg Charas worth Rs 1.02 crore.
Shivaji and Rama, at whose instance the alleged drugs were found from the residence and their backyard, in their bail pleas stated that the analyst who examined the contraband substance has not specified in his report whether these drugs was either ganja or charas. The analyst, though, admitted that cannabis can be either ganja or charas.
Their legal counsels further argued that both the jailed men are vulnerable to Covid as jail staff are being infected with this virus.
The Court however noted that the prosecution cannot be blamed because of the delay in a trial given the fact that there was an outbreak of Covid19 pandemic. As regards the claim of the accused that there are fresh cases of staff being infected by the virus, the Court observed that there are no details furnished in this regard. "There is also no report of the jail staff having contacted the virus in this year," the Judge said while rejecting the bail.
