A significant drug trafficking network has been dismantled in Uttar Pradesh, with police registering a case against Bhola Prasad, the father of alleged kingpin Subham Jaiswal. The case was filed at the Robertsganj police station in Sonbhadra district under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the NDPS Act.
The Elaborate Fake Licence Scheme
Investigators uncovered a meticulously planned fraud. Bhola Prasad, a resident of Kayasth Tola, Prahlad Ghat in Varanasi's Adampur area, allegedly used completely fabricated documents to obtain a drug licence. He misled the licensing authority in Ranchi, Jharkhand, to secure a licence for a warehouse operating under the name 'Shaili Traders' in Tupudana, Hatia, Ranchi.
Armed with this fraudulently acquired licence, Prasad established a web of fictitious firms across multiple districts. These included Ranchi, Palamu, and Bokaro in Jharkhand, and Sonbhadra, Varanasi, Chandauli, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, and Ballia in Uttar Pradesh. On paper, these firms showed legitimate supplies of codeine-based cough syrup.
Illegal Smuggling and Massive Profits
In reality, the operation was far from legal. Police state that Prasad, in collusion with smugglers linked to the larger drug racket, illegally diverted and smuggled bottles of codeine-based cough syrup to other locations. Codeine, an opioid, is a highly regulated substance due to its potential for abuse and addiction.
This organised criminal activity generated enormous illegal profits. Authorities reveal that the proceeds were used to acquire a lavish lifestyle, including high-end residences, expensive vehicles, fixed deposits, and large bank balances across various financial institutions.
Property Attachment Proceedings Begin
The scale of the illicit wealth is staggering. The ongoing investigation estimates that the total value of property acquired through this illegal trade is approximately Rs 30 crore.
Acting under the new legal framework, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Sonbhadra has already initiated action. Using provisions of section 107 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the team sent a report to the court and obtained a notice for the attachment of illegally acquired properties belonging to Bhola Prasad. This notice has been formally served to him.
Currently, legal procedures for attaching his identified properties are in motion. Officials have confirmed that as more information surfaces about other assets bought with the criminal proceeds, further attachment proceedings will be carried out in accordance with the law.
