Kolkata, Dec 17: A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday morning admitted a petition by the West Bengal Joint Platform of Doctors, an umbrella association of senior doctors, challenging the denial of permission from Kolkata Police to stage a 10-day sit-in-demonstration to protest the “default bail” to two accused — Sandip Ghosh and Abhijit Mondal — of tampering of evidence.

However, the original schedule of the sit-in-protest which was to start from Tuesday evening till December 26, had been upset since the hearing into the matter is likely to take place on Wednesday, confirmed an office bearer of the association.

The association had earlier sent an email communiqué to Kolkata Police seeking permission for the sit-in-demonstration at Dorina Crossing in central Kolkata. However, as the police denied the permission citing the possibility of traffic congestion in the area as the reason, the association on Tuesday morning approached Calcutta High Court’s single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, challenging the denial of police permission, which was admitted.

Last Friday, the special court in Kolkata granted “default bail” to the former and controversial principal of R.G. Kar Sandip Ghosh and the former SHO of Tala Police Station, Abhijit Mondal, following CBI’s failure to file a charge sheet against them the stipulated within 90 days of their arrests.

Both Ghosh and Mondal were accused of misleading the investigation and tampering with evidence during the initial investigation carried out by the Kolkata Police.

The CBI has so far filed only one charge sheet in the matter where civic volunteer Sanjay Roy has been identified as the “sole prime” accused in the rape and murder case.

Already West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, an umbrella body of junior doctors in the state, has threatened to resume their ceasework protest which they withdrew earlier keeping the larger public interest in mind.

The parents of the victim lady doctor have already claimed that following CBI’s failure in the matter “protests on the streets” with spontaneous public support is the only way out left for them now.

Kolkata, Dec 17: West Bengal Joint Platform of Doctors, an umbrella association of senior doctors in the state, might move Calcutta High Court on Tuesday challenging the denial of permission by Kolkata Police to stage a 10-day sit-in-demonstration to protest the “default bail” to the two accused in the RG Kar rape and murder case.

The said protest demonstration at Doreena Crossing in central Kolkata was slated to start on Tuesday evening and continue till December 26.

An association office-bearer said that in reply to their email communique to Kolkata Police seeking police permission for the sit-in protest, the city police denied it citing the possibility of traffic congestion in the area.

“In our communique, we assured the city police that there would be a peaceful sit-in-protest on one side of the street, leaving no chance for traffic congestion or deterioration in the law & order problem. However, the police have claimed that during this part of the year, several people gather in the area on occasions of Christmas and Yearend and citing them as reasons, the permission has been denied. Hence we are left with no other option but to move the Calcutta High Court seeking permission,” the association office bearer said.

Last Friday, the special court in Kolkata granted “default bail” to the former and controversial principal of R. G. Kar Sandip Ghosh and the former SHO of Tala Police Station, Abhijit Mondal, following CBI’s failure to file a charge sheet against them within the 90 days of their arrests.

Both Ghosh and Mondal were accused of misleading the investigation and tampering with evidence while the initial investigation was being carried out by Kolkata Police.

The CBI so far has filed only one charge sheet in the matter where civic volunteer Sanjay Roy has been identified as the “sole prime” accused in the rape and murder case.

Navi Mumbai: In an effort to dismantle the network of foreign nationals involved in drug trafficking, the Navi Mumbai Police on Thursday night launched a special operation, ‘Operation Garuda.’ The police conducted well-planned coordinated raids at various locations, leading to the arrest of 16 foreign nationals.

During this operation, 13 of the suspects were found with drugs, and approximately Rs 12 crore worth of various types of narcotics were seized. Additionally, three foreign nationals with fake passports and visas were also arrested. This marks the third major operation against drug trafficking conducted by the Navi Mumbai Police this year.

Under the direction of Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe, the Drug-Free Navi Mumbai campaign was initiated. The campaign targets African nationals involved in drug trafficking and illegal residence in the Navi Mumbai Police jurisdiction.

The orders for these actions were given by Commissioner Milind Bharambe, Joint Commissioner Sanjay Yenpure, Additional Commissioner (Crime) Deepak Sakore, and Deputy Commissioner of Police Amit Kale (Crime Branch).

Following these instructions, Assistant Commissioner of Police Bhausaheb Dhole, under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Nigade from the Anti Narcotics Unit (ANU), along with officers from the Crime Branch and local police stations, carried out a series of raids in Navi Mumbai on Thursday night, December 12, 2024.

The raids took place at 25 locations in the nodes of Kharghar, Taloja, Koparkhairane, Ulwe, and Vashi. As a result, 16 Nigerian nationals involved in drug trafficking and illegally residing in the area were arrested.

Out of these, 13 Nigerian nationals were found with various types of narcotics. Three others were discovered to be staying illegally with fake passports and visas. The police seized drugs worth approximately Rs12 crore, which included cocaine, MD powder, methylene, charas, and ganja. Besides, 73 African nationals with expired passports and visas were issued notices to leave the country.

The planning for Operation Garuda began a week ago. The Navi Mumbai Police had been monitoring the activities of foreign nationals residing in various parts of Navi Mumbai. They gathered confidential information about these individuals. On Thursday night, coordinated raids were carried out at 25 locations, where all foreign nationals residing in those areas were investigated and arrested.

A total of 150 police officers and staff from the Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate participated in this operation. To maintain secrecy, the officers involved were only informed just before the operation, ensuring no leaks of information.

“We will continue monitoring the foreign nationals and repeat the operation whenever the need arises. Officials of Economic Offence Wing, Crime Branch, ANU and local police stations, were involved in the operation,” ACP Dhole said.

Drugs Seized:

. 2.045 kg of cocaine (estimated worth Rs10.22 crore)

. 663 grams of MD powder (estimated worth Rs1.48 crore)

. 58 grams of methylene (estimated worth Rs 11.6 lakh)

. 23 grams of charas (estimated worth Rs 3.45 lakh)

. 31 grams of ganja (estimated worth Rs 6,000)