The Kerala High Court has refused to grant bail to three individuals accused in the case of the Ravihansi, a Sri Lankan fishing vessel intercepted off the Lakshadweep coast, which was found laden with contraband including arms, ammunition, and narcotics. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had prosecuted the case, alleging a transnational criminal conspiracy involving smuggling of weapons and drugs, and links to the banned LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam).
According to the NIA, the Ravihansi was intercepted during the Arabian Sea operation in March 2021, during which authorities recovered five AK-56 rifles, approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition, and a significant quantity of narcotic substances. The accused include two Sri Lankan nationals, L. Y. Nandana and Janaka Dasapriya, as well as an Indian national, Suresh Raj. The agency argued that these seizures formed part of a larger, well-organised trafficking network with serious national security implications.
In opposition to their bail application, the NIA pointed to the gravity of the charges and underscored the possibility of witness tampering, given the accused's alleged role in a global smuggling syndicate. The agency highlighted that one of the accused had connections to a powerful Pakistani drug trafficker, Haji Salim, and that the smuggling operation facilitated not only narcotics but also arms destined for terrorist organisations. It stressed that granting bail in such a case would imperil not just the legal process but also national security.
The High Court bench, after hearing the submissions, upheld the decision of the NIA special court in Kochi, refusing to grant bail. The court noted that the allegations were not only severe but also deeply intertwined with cross-border threats. It said that the prosecution’s case appeared prima facie strong and that a trial was scheduled to begin soon — factors that weighed heavily against the grant of bail.
Given the serious nature of the offences, including the potential for funds and arms to be channelled for extremist activities, the High Court decided that the risk of releasing the accused before trial was too significant. The court concluded that the bail pleas must be rejected to preserve the integrity of the investigation and to prevent any risk to public safety or national interest.
This ruling underscores the judiciary’s “zero tolerance” stance toward transnational smuggling networks involving both narcotic trafficking and illegal arms trade. By denying bail to the accused, the Court has sent a clear message that cases involving cross-border criminal conspiracies, especially those with terrorist overtones, will be handled with utmost seriousness and will not be lightly treated.
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