A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Ahmedabad has rejected a temporary bail application filed by Manzoor Ahmed Mir, an accused in a 500-kg heroin smuggling case. Mir sought a 30-day release from prison to persuade his wife to withdraw her divorce petition.

Mir, originally from Jammu and Kashmir, was apprehended by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in October 2018. The arrest was connected to the seizure of 500 kg of heroin, allegedly smuggled from Pakistan to India via sea. The consignment was reportedly delivered to an Indian vessel, "Nagani Mustufa," in Indian maritime waters. Mir has been in custody since his arrest, with previous attempts to secure regular bail proving unsuccessful. The NIA subsequently took over the case, citing the extensive network of drug traffickers and the severity of the offense.

In his plea for temporary bail, Mir argued that his inability to financially support his wife had led her to file for divorce. He asserted his innocence, claiming to be a trader dealing in fruits, vegetables, carpets, and shawls, with no involvement in the drug smuggling operation.

The NIA opposed Mir's bail application, pointing out that he had previously raised the issue of his wife's divorce petition in an earlier bail plea, which was rejected. The court ordered a police verification report from the Beerwah police station in Jammu and Kashmir, which confirmed that Mir's wife had left their matrimonial home after his arrest. The report suggested that Mir could contest the divorce through video conferencing or with the assistance of his mother, maternal uncle, or sisters. The NIA emphasized the stringent bail provisions under Section 37 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, strongly objecting to his release.