A special court handling cases for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Ahmedabad has delivered a significant ruling, refusing to grant temporary bail to a man accused in a massive 500-kilogram heroin smuggling case. The accused, Manzoor Ahmed Mir, had sought a 30-day release from custody with a personal motive: to persuade his wife not to proceed with divorce proceedings against him.
The Bail Plea and the Court's Firm Stand
In his application to the court, Mir presented a personal crisis as grounds for temporary freedom. He stated that as he was unable to provide for his wife due to his prolonged incarceration, she had filed a divorce petition. "The applicant wants to convince his wife not to take divorce from him," the plea read. However, the court was not swayed by this personal appeal, given the serious nature of the charges against him.
The judge suggested alternative means for Mir to address his marital issues. The court pointed out that he could contest the divorce petition through video-conference facilities available from jail or could seek assistance from his family members, including his mother, maternal uncle, or sisters, to intervene in the matter on his behalf.
Background of the High-Profile Drug Seizure
The case dates back to October 2018, when the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested Manzoor Ahmed Mir from Jammu & Kashmir. His arrest was directly linked to the interception of a colossal consignment of heroin, weighing half a tonne.
Investigations revealed that the narcotics were allegedly smuggled into India from Pakistan via the sea route. The illicit shipment was delivered to an Indian vessel named Nagani Mustufa within Indian maritime waters, marking a major international drug trafficking operation.
Accused Maintains Innocence Amid Serious Charges
Throughout the proceedings, Mir has maintained his innocence regarding the drug charges. He has claimed to have no connection to the contraband consignment. In his defence, he presented himself as a simple trader dealing in legitimate goods like fruits, vegetables, carpets, and shawls.
Despite these claims, the court considered the gravity of the offence—one of the largest heroin seizures in the region—and the ongoing nature of the investigation while making its decision. The refusal of bail underscores the judiciary's stringent approach in cases involving large-scale narcotics smuggling, especially those with potential cross-border terrorism links investigated by the NIA.
The ruling reinforces the principle that personal exigencies, while compelling, are often weighed against the severity of the alleged crime and the interests of justice in such high-stakes legal battles.
