Lab result probably due to delay in testing: Suspended official in ‘fake drug case’ claims innocence

Kochi: K Satheesh, an excise official who was suspended following the controversial ‘fake drug seizure’ case in Chalakudy, dismissed allegations of wrongdoing and claimed that what they seized were LSD stamps.

His response came on Monday, the same day the excise department filed a report in the court to remove parlour owner Sheela Sunny as an accused in the case registered in February. Recently, a lab report said the material seized from Sheela was not synthetic drugs. The excise department suspended Satheesh, who arrested her.

Satheesh claimed that the drug test turned negative probably due to delay in conducting the test. He said that the test was conducted one-and-half months after collecting samples. "After the case was filed, the accused were in custody of the investigating team. Further communications were with the assistant excise commissioner and not me," he said.

"We have seized similar drugs in the past. We are sure it was LSD stamp. Since the liquid in these stamps could easily evaporate, the lab tests should be conducted immediately. However, the excise department does not have a detection kit to test them," he added.

Satheesh narrated the chain of events on the day of arrest. "We raided her place based on a complaint. Sheela’s son said that his aunt might be behind it. Sheela did not say anything. She argued that she never let anyone use her bag and two-wheeler. When we confronted her with her son's statement, she refused to believe he would say something like that… We told her that we had no choice but to register a case. When we asked her whether she suspected anyone, to which she replied that she has no adversaries nor has any role to play in the incident," he said. 

Satheesh also claimed that he received the tip-off about the drugs from a person named Satheesan through WhatsApp. However, the police are yet to identify this person's whereabouts.

Sheela Sunny (51), owner of 'She Style' beauty parlour in Chalakudy, was arrested on February 27 for allegedly possessing 12 LSD stamps worth Rs 60,000. The excise officials then maintained that Sheela had been involved in illicit drug business under the pretext of running the parlour. In a raid that followed, excise officials found 12 LSD stamps hidden inside her scooter and bag. Sheela was granted bail by the high court on May 10 after being jailed for 72 days in Viyyur Jail.