Pratima Prasad (35) was arrested by the Narcotics Cell of Mumbai police on May 30, 2010 and 22 kg of cannabis was seized from her possession. Later, 18 kg of contraband was seized from her house.
Prasad was released on bail in July 2010. First witness in the case, police officer Rohidas Vanzari, deposed before the special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act Court today.
Vanzari said he had received a tip-off about Prasad, and when she was nabbed, a woman constable searched her belongings and found cannabis.
But during Vanzari's cross examination, defence lawyer Shekhar Bhandari argued that nobody below the rank of head constable could have searched Prasad as per the procedure.
There was nothing on the record to show that additional 18 kg was recovered from her house, he argued, adding that since the mandatory procedural norms were not followed, the case did not stand.
Special Judge I M Bohari accepted the argument and acquitted the accused.