HC unhappy with probe pace in case under anti-narcotics law

The Calcutta High Court today expressed unhappiness at the manner and pace of investigation by an officer of Kolkata Police in a case under anti-narcotics law.
Justice Siddhartha Chatterjee directed Kolkata Police authorities to decide on the action contemplated against the investigating officer (IO) and inform the court about it by tomorrow.
The IO had allegedly not mentioned any date of the statement taken from the accused who has prayed for dropping of charges against him, under Section 161 of CrPC and that he had also annexed the same in the case diary. The accused was arrested under NDPS Act.

The IO has also not been able to arrest or track the main accused in the case.
Appearing before the court, the Deputy Commissioner (detective department, special) said that departmental proceedings had been initiated against the officer.
The court was, however, not pleased and observed that it may take a long time and that the authorities should submit by tomorrow the nature of action being contemplated against him.

One Melvin Smith had been arrested in connection with a narcotic substance-related case in 2012, who named one Bijay Mahato during interrogation.
Mahato was also arrested though nothing had allegedly been found from his premises, as per his petition before the high court.

Mahato, who was granted bail later, had moved the high court seeking discharge in the case on the claim that he was innocent and had been framed.
The IO had allegedly not mentioned the date of Mahato's statement under Section 161 of CrPC.