Ramkumar Tiwari, co-owner of Mumbai’s iconic ‘Muchhad Paanwala’ shop, was discharged by a Special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) court last week. Tiwari was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in January 2021 for alleged drug possession. The court ruled that there was no evidence to frame charges against him, effectively ending a four-year-long legal battle, Hindustan Times reported.
Arrest and allegations
According to Hindustan Times, Tiwari, whose father, late Pandit Jaishankar Tiwari established the iconic paan shop in Kemps Corner during the 1970s, was booked by the NCB on charges of stocking marijuana-laced products and selling contraband through his shops. The case formed part of a wider crackdown by then NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede after British national Karan Sajnani and his accomplices were arrested in Bandra, from whom the agency said it seized almost 200 kilograms of marijuana.
Court finds insufficient evidence
The case faltered after the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report found no traces of narcotics in the sachets seized from Tiwari’s shop. Advocate Karan Singh Rajput, representing Tiwari said, “We pointed out that the FSL report was negative.” He further added, “The vegetative material was not detected as cannabis. Tiwari was booked under Sections 8 (c) (prohibition of certain operations) with Sections 20 (b) (punishment for contravention in relation to cannabis plant of the NDPS act, 1985), and it was claimed that he was also involved in a conspiracy with Sajnani and others”, Hindustan Times reported.
Before Special NDPS judge Sunil Patel, Rajput argued that “There was no admissible evidence to frame charges against him”, and the prosecution has failed to establish any conspiracy tie up between Tiwari and other accused. Accepting this argument the court said despite being a chargesheet filed in the case, there was no evidence to put charges against Tiwar, leading to Tiwari’s discharge.
In response to the verdict, Tiwari responded with a dry smile to Wankhede's favorite line by stating, " We believed in the judiciary, and today truth has prevailed. Satyameva Jayate.”
An enduring legacy
The Muchhad Paanwala brand, which specializes in innovative offerings such as Ferrero Rocher paan, Oreo baked cheesecake paan, and Jaipuria paan priced between ₹40 and ₹1,000, has been an iconic brand in Mumbai visited by politicians, actors, bankers and industrialists over the years. Today, the family operates six outlets in the city and maintains its loyal customer base both offline and online through food delivery services.
