Bineesh’s counsel argued that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had arrested Bineesh on the charges of financing alleged illegal drug trade but the NCB failed to prove its claim
Kochi: About a year after his arrest, Bineesh Kodiyeri, was granted bail by the Karnataka High Court today in cases related to money laundering and financing drug deals.
Son of senior CPM leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Bineesh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on October 29, 2020, media reports said.
Bineesh’s counsel argued that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had arrested Bineesh on the charges of financing alleged illegal drug trade but the NCB failed to prove its claim, the reports said.
Further, he said that the NCB had arrested Mohammed Anoop in the case for his alleged role in drug trafficking.
The lawyer said that the payments were made by Bineesh to Anoop for starting a hospitality business in Bangalore by mortgaging property in Kerala. The payments were made through banks.
The NCB could not find any material against Kodiyeri or else they would have prosecuted him under the NDPS Act, he argued. Anoop was arrested by the NCB in Bengaluru after seizing 60 grams of MDMA tablets in his residence.
According to prosecution charges, Anoop confessed that he was a benami of Bineesh. The argument on his bail was held for about seven months. A lower court had earlier rejected his bail plea after which he moved High Court in March this year.
