Matunga drugs and guns case: Charges framed against real accused, exec gets clean chit

Faqrudin Sayyed, and Gopal Mooponr have been discharged in the case. File pic

The Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 5 last week filled a charge sheet in the drugs-and-gun-planting case, in which an executive from Matunga and his friend were framed. The charge sheet says that the executive, Faqrudin Sayyed, and Gopal Mooponr, arrested by the Shahu Nagar police, have been discharged in the case.

The substance recovered from Sayyed's house was sent for examination and the forensic lab's report describes it as ephedrine, a drug. Hence the Crime Branch has filed a charge sheet under the NDPS, Arms Act and other sections of IPC.

The main accused, Nicolas Pandian

The Crime Branch's 1,000-page charge sheet filed in the sessions court has 31 witnesses mentioned in it and 4 people have been arrested. The police told the court recently how arrested accused Nicolas Pandian had framed Sayyed. Nicolas had told the police that the drugs he planted at Sayyed's house were a mixture of crocin pills and ajinomoto.

The police had found that Nicolas got the drugs and gun planted at Sayyed's house through police informer Naeem Qureshi. The gun used was given to Qureshi by Ashfaq Sheikh, who has also been arrested. Mohammad Maruf, who sold the gun to Ashfaq, was also arrested by Sanjay Jagtap, the investigating officer in this case, in UP. All four are in judicial custody.

Faqrudin Sayyed (third from left), and Gopal Mooponr (second from right) with friends. File pic/Bipin Kokate

Both Sayyed and Moopnr have decided to repay the money their friends helped them with to fight their case. "I am getting married in June but due to financial issues it could be delayed. When I and Gopal Mooponr were in jail my friends and mid-day supported us. We will return our friends' money," Sayyed said.