Varanasi Police Files Extensive Chargesheet in Major Codeine Smuggling Crackdown
In a significant development targeting the illicit trade of codeine-laced New Phensedyl cough syrup, the Kotwali police in Varanasi have filed a comprehensive 38,000-page chargesheet before the fast track court of an additional district judge on Thursday. This legal action marks a crucial step in the ongoing crackdown on a widespread smuggling network that has been operating in the region.
Accused Individuals and Syndicate Details
A total of 18 persons have been named in the chargesheet, with Shubham Jaiswal, a resident of Kayastha Tola under the Adampur police station area, identified as the syndicate kingpin. The other accused include:
- Shubham’s father, Bhola Prasad
- Prateek Mishra
- Vishal Kumar Sonkar
- Prateek Kumar
- Dharmendra Kumar Agarwal
- Aditya Jaisalal
- Rahul Yadav
- Himanshu Kasera
- Akash Pathak
- Vikas Singh
- Ankit Kumar Srivastava
- Swapnil Kesari
- Dinesh Yadav
- Ashish Yadav
- Mahesh Khetan
- Badal Arya
- Vishal Kumar Jaiswal
According to police authorities, the chargesheet has been meticulously prepared based on an extensive investigation and substantial evidence gathered over time. The accused face serious charges related to the illegal trade in codeine-laced cough syrup, which is often misused for narcotic purposes.
Legal Charges and Ongoing Investigations
The accused have been charged under multiple sections of the law, including:
- Section 26D of the NDPS Act
- Added charges under Sections 61(2) for criminal conspiracy, 318(4) for cheating, 336(3) for forgery for cheating, 338 for forgery of valuable security, will, etc., and 340(2) for dishonest use of a forged document or electronic record as genuine under the BNS
- Sections 8/21/29/27A of the NDPS Act
Police teams are continuously conducting raids to apprehend Shubham Jaiswal, who remains at large. This case traces back to October 2025, when the Sonbhadra Police busted a racket smuggling codeine cough syrup to countries like Bangladesh for narcotic uses. The first case against Shubham and 27 others was subsequently lodged in Varanasi on November 15, 2025.
Current Status and Asset Forfeiture
Shubham’s father, Bhola Prasad, and several other accused in this case have already been arrested, demonstrating the police's proactive efforts in dismantling the network. Additionally, properties worth several crores belonging to many of the accused have been forfeited, highlighting the financial scale of the illegal operations. This crackdown underscores the authorities' commitment to curbing drug-related crimes and enforcing stringent legal measures against those involved in such activities.
