MUMBAI: A 50-year-old businessman from Kota has been let off by the Metropolitan Magistrate 36th court in Mumbai after raising allegations of a frame-up in a drug case. Ashish Daga was caught by the Railway police at the Mumbai railway station last week, allegedly in possession of 51 grams of drugs. However, the court released him on the same day of the arrest on the grounds of illegal detention.
Daga’s lawyer, Ramprasad Gupta, claims that his client has been framed by his close relatives with the help of policemen. It is worth noting that Daga and his relatives, Sanjay Damania and Sunita Damania, have been involved in various legal cases against each other over financial issues, filing cross FIRs.
Gupta argued in court that Daga had no motive to carry drugs and questioned why he would place them in an unlocked baggage on a day he was scheduled to attend a court hearing. He also emphasized that Daga took a different route upon arrival at Mumbai Central than he usually would, which further supports the claim of a frame-up.
The court found merit in Gupta’s arguments and deemed Daga’s arrest to be illegal. The court pointed out that Daga should have been produced before the court within 24 hours of his apprehension, but this did not happen. The investigating officer had sought Daga’s police custody to investigate the source of the contraband and his intended recipient.
Speaking about the ongoing investigation, Bhagwan Dange, senior inspector of Mumbai Central railway police, stated, On the basis of allegations, we have initiated a detailed probe into this episode right from collecting CCTV footage of the train from where Daga boarded the train, recording the statements of co-passengers, etc.
Daga, who is engaged in the business of agriculture implements and runs small-scale industries in Rajasthan, believes that he has been wrongly targeted due to the ongoing legal disputes with his relatives. In the previous cases filed against him, some were closed under the classification of B summary, which implies there was no substance to the charges.
The defense attorney has requested a thorough examination of all the CCTV footage from the train, particularly from Coach B-1, in which Daga traveled to Mumbai. The investigation aims to ascertain the events leading up to Daga’s arrest and gather evidence to support his claim of being framed.
As the case unfolds, questions regarding the alleged drug planting and the involvement of Daga’s relatives and the police remain unanswered. The court’s decision to release Daga raises concerns about possible miscarriage of justice and highlights the need for a comprehensive and fair investigation.
While Daga’s legal battles with his relatives continue, his case shines a light on the complexities and potential abuses of power within the criminal justice system. As the investigations proceed, it remains to be seen if the truth will prevail and justice will be served in this contentious drug case.
