Varanasi Police Issue Ultimatum to Cough Syrup Racket Aide
In a significant development in the ongoing crackdown on the illicit codeine-based cough syrup trade, Varanasi police have issued a stern warning to Prashant Upadhyaya, a close associate of alleged kingpin Shubham Jaiswal. The Kotwali police announced on Friday that Upadhyaya's properties will be forfeited if he fails to appear in court by March 30.
Public Proclamation and Legal Notices
The police action unfolded with a dramatic public proclamation on Friday evening. Officers from Kotwali police station, accompanied by drum beats, visited Upadhyaya's residences to serve notice. Official notices were prominently pasted on the gates of his properties located in St John's Colony Marhauli and Shankarpuri Colony of Mahmoorganj area.
The notices explicitly direct Upadhyaya to appear before the ACJM Fast Track Court by March 30. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kotwali Vijay Pratap Singh emphasized that failure to comply will trigger the complete forfeiture process for his properties under the NDPS Act.
Parallel Actions Against Racket Kingpin
This action against Upadhyaya follows similar measures taken against the alleged mastermind of the operation. On March 25, Sarnath police completed formalities for attaching properties belonging to Shubham Jaiswal at his Sigra residence. The property had already been attached previously during actions against Jaiswal's father, Bhola Prasad Jaiswal, who is currently incarcerated.
Sarnath police station in-charge Pankaj Kumar Tripathi confirmed that if Jaiswal continues to evade authorities, formal proceedings to attach his property will be initiated. This represents an escalation in law enforcement's strategy to dismantle the criminal network through financial pressure.
Widespread Property Attachments Across Police Jurisdictions
The crackdown has seen coordinated efforts across multiple police stations in Varanasi. Properties owned by Jaiswal's father Bhola and other family members have already been attached by Sonbhadra and Rohania police. The house where Sarnath police served attachment notices had previously undergone similar legal procedures, indicating the comprehensive nature of the investigation.
Cases related to the codeine cough syrup smuggling operation led by Shubham Jaiswal's gang are currently registered with Kotwali, Rohaniya, Sarnath, and other police stations in Varanasi. Meanwhile, Sonbhadra police continue their independent investigation into the sprawling network, suggesting the operation's reach extends beyond the city limits.
Legal Framework and Implications
The use of property forfeiture represents a strategic application of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which provides authorities with powerful tools to combat drug-related crimes. By targeting the financial assets of alleged offenders, police aim to disrupt the economic foundations of criminal enterprises.
The Fast Track Court has granted both absconders until March 30 to present themselves before judicial authorities. This deadline creates a clear timeline for legal consequences, with property seizure serving as a substantial deterrent against continued evasion.
This development underscores the determined efforts by Varanasi police to tackle the dangerous trade in codeine-laced cough syrups, which has emerged as a significant public health and law enforcement challenge in the region.
