The Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court has ordered an investigation into the disappearance of drugs, including 75 grams of brown sugar and 20 bottles of cough syrup, from the Matigara police station in Siliguri. Allegations of discrepancies in the quantity of seized materials presented in court prompted the intervention.
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JALPAIGURI,WEST BENGAL: On Friday, the Matigara police station in Siliguri has come under scrutiny following allegations of missing drug paraphernalia. The controversy centers around the disappearance of a significant amount of confiscated substances, including 75 grams of brown sugar and 20 bottles of cough syrup, from the police station warehouse. A recent order from a division bench of the Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court, comprising Justice Harish Tandon and Supratim Bhattacharya, has mandated a thorough investigation into the matter.
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The investigation was prompted by the accusations raised by Vishwarup Roy, the defense attorney for the accused, during a court hearing. Vishwarup Roy highlighted discrepancies in the quantity of seized materials presented by the police in the Siliguri Judicial Magistrate Fast Court.
According to him, the police initially recovered 265 grams of brown sugar and 22 bottles of codeine mixture cough syrup from two drug smugglers in September 2021. However, during the court proceedings, the police reportedly presented a reduced amount of 190 grams of brown sugar and only two bottles of cough syrup.
“Where did the remaining 75 grams of brown sugar and 20 bottles of cough syrup go from the police warehouse?”
-questioned Biswaroopbabu, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation into the matter.
The Division Bench took cognizance of the discrepancies raised by the defense and promptly ordered the Additional Director General (ADG) of North Bengal to conduct a comprehensive inquiry. The ADG has been given a timeframe of 10 days to complete the investigation and submit a detailed report.
This development stems from the initial drug seizure incident in September 2021 when the Matigara police station recovered 22 bottles of codeine mixture cough syrup and 265 grams of brown sugar from two alleged drug smugglers. Subsequently, the case reached the Judicial Magistrate Fast Court near Siliguri. The discrepancies in the quantities presented in court have now escalated the matter to the High Court.
The alleged misrepresentation of seized materials has raised concerns about the integrity of the evidence and the possibility of mishandling or misappropriation within the police station. The High Court’s intervention reflects its commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent inquiry into the allegations. The ADG’s investigation will play a pivotal role in uncovering the truth behind the missing drug paraphernalia.
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Following the completion of the ADG’s inquiry, a hearing has been scheduled for the case after 10 days. The outcome of this investigation is anticipated to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the alleged disappearance of the drugs from the police station warehouse.
