Nagpur court grants bail to stationery shop owner held in MD powder case

A special NDPS court in Nagpur has granted bail to Mohammed Shahid Mohammed Islam Ansari, who runs a stationery shop and was arrested in a case of alleged MD powder dealing. The hearing was held before Special NDPS Judge Manish Ganorkar. After hearing both sides, the court granted bail to Ansari and directed him to cooperate with the investigation and not to influence prosecution witnesses.

The case relates to the alleged recovery of 14 grams 15 milligrams of MD powder. According to the prosecution, police acted on a complaint by Crime Branch Head Constable Shaikh Nazir. On August 18, 2026, police stopped a man named Farhan Shaikh on suspicion near Jagdamba Residency in Arya Nagar, under Koradi police station limits.

Police searched him and checked his two-wheeler, and allegedly found 14 grams 15 milligrams of MD powder. Farhan Shaikh was then arrested. Crime No. 365/2026 was registered, and he was booked under Sections 8(c), 22(b) and 29 of the NDPS Act.

According to the prosecution, Farhan Shaikh was questioned in police custody. During this questioning he allegedly named Mohammed Shahid Mohammed Islam Ansari, who runs a stationery shop. Police alleged that Farhan said he had bought MD powder from Shahid. Taking the probe forward on this basis, police arrested Ansari too.

After the arrest, police produced Shahid in court and sought three days of police custody remand (PCR) for further investigation. The defence strongly opposed this. Advocates Kamal Satuja and Kailash Dodani, appearing for the accused, told the court that Shahid had been implicated mainly on the basis of an alleged statement by co-accused Farhan Shaikh.

The defence argued that Ansari has run a stationery shop for several years and that no narcotic substance was recovered from him. There is no allegation of seizure of MD powder or any other banned substance from him either. The lawyers also said it was not right to keep someone in custody solely on a co-accused's alleged confessional statement, and that no direct, solid material evidence had been placed to show that the arrest and police custody were necessary. After these arguments, the court did not grant the PCR sought by police.

A bail application was then filed on Ansari's behalf. Advocates Kamal Satuja, Kailash Dodani and Anmol Goswami argued the matter. They said Shahid has no direct connection with the offence, has been in the stationery business for years, and that the investigating agency found no banned substance on him. The defence also cited the Supreme Court's Toofan Singh judgment and said that holding someone in custody on a co-accused's alleged confessional statement alone does not stand the test of law, so Shahid's further custody was not necessary.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Vinod Hukre opposed bail on behalf of the prosecution. He told the court that the case involved a narcotic substance and was serious in nature. The investigation is at an early stage and further inquiry remains. The prosecution also feared that, once released, the accused could influence witnesses or obstruct the investigation, and on this ground sought rejection of the application.

After hearing both sides, Judge Manish Ganorkar granted bail to Ansari. The court directed him to cooperate with the investigation, not to influence prosecution witnesses and not to interfere with the probe in any way. The stationery shop owner has thus received relief from the court. Police are continuing the investigation.