Codeine case: Charge sheet filed against seven accused

Varanasi: Rohaniya police on Thursday filed charge sheet against seven accused, including Bhola Prasad Jaiswal, in fast track court of the Additional District Judge (14th Finance Commission) in a case lodged under sections of the NDPS Act in the episode of codeine syrup smuggling.Special public prosecutor (NDPS) Arvind Srivastava said based on evidence collected by Rohaniya police after registering case under sections of NDPS Act following recovery of 18,600 bottles of Phensedyle and 75,150 bottles of Eskuf on Nov 19, 2025, investigation officer filed charge sheet against Bhola Prasad Jaiswal, Azad Jaiswal, Mahesh Kumar Singh, Dinesh Kumar Yadav and Ashish Yadav of Varanasi, Shivakant alias Shiv of Kanpur/Ghaziabad and Swapnil Kesari of Chandauli. Bhola is father of smuggling syndicate kingpin Shubham Jaiswal and proprietor of Shelly Traders.
Investigators collected evidence including e-way bills, bank statements, cash deposit slips, bank CCTV footage, ITR examination, CDR of persons concerned, test reports from Forensic Science Laboratory, Ramnagar and drug inspector of the seized codeine-containing cough syrup, reports from Abbott and Lupin companies, toll data of vehicles, statements of bank manager and cashier concerned and statements of independent witnesses. They mentioned, "Evidence proves the accused smuggled codeine-containing cough syrup on a large scale to earn money illegally."Investigators also explained modus operandi in charge sheet, mentioning the accused created paper/fake firms and deposited cash received through hawala into the banks of related firms and transferred those funds to Shelly Traders' account through various other firms. They brought hawala money into legal circulation while showing the purchase and sale of codeine cough syrup on paper.Stocks of siphoned codeine cough syrup were kept hidden at unknown locations under the direction of Shubham, who is absconding and Bhola for secretly sending stock to Bangladesh border and selling at 10 times higher prices. Cash and fake bills were delivered to Dinesh Yadav and Ashish Yadav through Shubham Jaiswal and his assistant, Devesh.Based on fake bills prepared under Shubham Jaiswal's direction, large amounts of cash were deposited by the accused in various banks on different dates in Singh Medicos, Alukba and SP Pharma, after which cash was transferred to Shelly Traders through various firms. The accused, while operating a large organised syndicate, committed large-scale illegal smuggling of codeine cough syrup and acquired movable and immovable property from the money earned. Action was also taken under 68 F of the NDPS Act in this regard. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and gift idea !