KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday quashed a narcotics case against Kajim Sheikh (35), who was arrested in March this year — 14 years after a warrant was issued against him.
Sheikh had been named in a 2010 FIR lodged at Murshidabad’s Jalangi police station after narcotics were recovered from a private vehicle. Though a warrant was issued on September 2, 2010, he was not arrested until March 22, 2024.
State counsel argued the delay was due to the 2020 bifurcation of Jalangi police station and because Sheikh was “absconding.” Sheikh countered that he had been living openly at his home under Sagarpara police station throughout.
Justice Apurba Sinha Ray rejected the state’s reasoning, observing: “For 10 years, the police were idle. Is it the fault of the applicant or the court? These reasons cannot be accepted, particularly when the matter involves the liberty of a person.”
The court ruled that prolonged police inaction and lack of material evidence justified quashing the proceedings, noting Sheikh had only been named by another accused without corroboration.
