MUMBAI, June 16: A sub inspector attached to the Narcotics Cell of the Mumbai police was slapped with a non-bailable arrest warrant by the City Civil and Sessions Court today for remaining absent from the court proceedings. Additional sessions judge K U Chandiwal who is also the special judge for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985, Mumbai, issued the non-bailable warrant against sub inspector P M Mali.Justice Chandiwal, issued the warrant following the officer's absence from the court proceedings thrice in succession without intimation. The concerned case is being heard in the City Civil and Sessions Court since last year and Mali is the investigating officer. Officers attached to the Narcotics Cell of the Mumbai police had seized 20 kilograms of Opium on March 16, 1996 from a hideout of drug runners near hotel Nagina, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar road, Byculla. In a case as serious as this, presence of the investigating officer is extremely important for the court proceedings - during recording evidence as well as cross examination.When contacted, Assistant Commissioner L S Tayade of the Narcotics Cell, said that Mali was on leave since a month and had no idea when Mali was supposed to rejoin. When asked if the investigation of the case would suffer in Mali's absence, Tayade said, "no."``It is up to the judge whether to adjourn the matter till further date or to issue a warrant. I do not want to comment any more on the issue,'' Tayade told Express Newsline on Monday afternoon. Head of Narcotics Cell Deputy Commissioner Hemant Karkare was not available for comment as he was on leave.
