Panaji, Aug 14 A court in Goa on Friday rejected a fresh bail application filled by Israeli national Yaniv Benaim alias Atala, an accused in a drug case being investigated by the Anti-Narcotic Cell (ANC) of the state police.
The Principal District and Sessions Court, North Goa, at Merces, also ordered the issuance of a non-bailable warrant against him, police said. He is currently out on interim bail.
Atala had moved the sessions court afresh following a July 14 order of the Bombay High Court which set aside an earlier order of the lower court granting him bail.
The High Court had directed Atala to appear before the trial court and file a fresh bail application within a week, and asked the sessions court to decide the plea within a month.
The High Court had also extended Atala's temporary bail until the sessions court decided his fresh application.
At the sessions court, the ANC opposed his fresh bail plea, citing the seriousness of the offences and Atala's past record of drug-related cases and overstay in the country.
Offences involving narcotic drugs have a wider ramification for society, particularly the younger generation, and therefore the bail application in such cases required careful consideration, the ANC said.
After hearing both sides, the sessions court rejected Atala's fresh bail application.
