The Hindu : Detained Indians escape drug trafficking charges

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 30, 2003

International

International - India & World

Detained Indians escape drug trafficking charges

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA Oct. 29. Four Indians, all members of prominent families, detained by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) appear to have escaped drug trafficking charges, but were accused of possessing and consuming drugs after a small quantity of hashish was recovered from them.

According to sources, the four — Farhan Azmi, son of the Samajwadi Party leader, Abu Azmi, Shaan Sippy, grandson of film-maker G.P. Sippy, Bonie Chabria, son of car designer Dilip Chabria and Prakash Dandekar arrived in Dubai on October 19.

The UAE drug enforcement authorities raided the hotel in which they were staying the next day. They recovered a small quantity of hashish from their room and the car they were using. Two of them are said to have later tested positive for consuming drugs. An agency report quoted Mr. Dilip Chabria on Wednesday as saying that the authorities had discharged his son as no evidence was found against him.

One of them, whose identity is still not known, but under detention, has allegedly owned responsibility for possessing the drug, sources said. Drug trafficking charges, which draw extremely harsh penalty under UAE laws, were apparently not pressed, as the quantity of hashish recovered was small and could not have found any significant commercial use.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

Bush hints at change in tactics in Iraq

Wu's visit to help start n-talks?

Tory leader faces confidence vote

11 miners rescued in Russia

Norway for joint assessment of Colombo situation

30 illegal Indian immigrants sentenced in Russia

Attack by Sinhala hardliners mars cultural fete

Detained Indians escape drug trafficking charges