Pune: Special Judge VR Kachre on Friday rejected the bail application of Sassoon Hospital canteen worker Rauf Rahim Shaikh in the drug mafia Lalit Patil case. Shaikh has been arrested under the MCOCA.
The Crime Branch of the Pune Police arrested Lalit Patil’s accomplice Subhash Mandal, along with Rauf Shaikh, on September 30, 2023. Mandal and Shaikh were held while they were planning to supply Rs 2-cr Mephedrone to Patil, who was undergoing treatment in the hospital. Both have been arrested under the MCOCA.
Shaikh has been in jail since then. Shaikh applied for bail, through his lawyer Rajesh Waghmare. The defence lawyer argued that the accused was innocent. His family is dependent on him. There are no previous offences registered against him.
However, the Public Prosecutor opposed his bail plea saying that the accused was following Lalit Patil’s instructions. He was assisting Patil in the drug smuggling. There is proof of his involvement in the deals. The CDR report is also available.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge rejected Shaikh’s bail application.
