A postgraduate student from Goa University has approached the High Court of Bombay at Goa seeking the quashing of an FIR filed under Section 20(b)(ii)(A) of the NDPS Act at Mapusa Police Station. He alleges unlawful detention, misuse of police powers, and a fabricated anti-narcotics raid.
The petitioner, Leonardo Deva, an MA English Literature student, claims he was forcibly apprehended in broad daylight on May 4, 2025, from outside a parcel service shop opposite Mapusa Police Station. In his writ petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution, he states he was detained for several hours without documentation and later framed in a staged narcotics raid.
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Deva has produced 29 CCTV clips, seeking permission to submit them on a pen drive since the court’s e-filing system does not allow video uploads. He says the footage and call logs contradict the police claim that he was found at the Mapusa new bus stand between 9:25 pm and 10:45 pm. According to him, the footage shows two men—including constable Anand Rathod—snatching his phone before he was dragged into a black car, though the abduction itself falls outside CCTV coverage.
He alleges he was taken to the Karaswada Police Outpost and detained without being informed of the grounds of arrest, without a written order, and without production before a Magistrate. Later that night, Deva claims he was taken to the new bus stand, where PSI Ajay Dhuri, PSI Mangesh Palni, and others carried out what he describes as a staged raid.
He further alleges police planted his mobile phone in his jacket and inserted a Rs 200 note into another pocket to fabricate evidence, after which recovery photographs were taken. He says he was forced to sign pre-typed documents without being allowed to read them.
Meanwhile, his family, unable to trace him since afternoon, filed a missing-person report. Deva claims police withheld information about his detention despite having his photograph and knowing he had been in custody since 3:56 pm—allegedly violating Supreme Court guidelines laid down in D.K. Basu vs State of West Bengal.
He also alleges that police failed to comply with Section 50 of the NDPS Act and used “stock panchas” during the recovery procedure. The petition highlights discrepancies in the police timeline and notes that his motorcycle was retrieved quietly from the location of his daytime apprehension, not from the alleged arrest spot.
Although the offence is bailable, Deva’s initial bail requests were denied, and he was released only on May 14, 2025. Alleging malicious prosecution, he seeks quashing of the FIR, a halt on further investigation, return of his confiscated phone, and permission to physically submit CCTV evidence.
The case is listed for hearing on December 17, and Mapusa Police have sought time to file their affidavit.
