By Rajesh Pandey
The Allahabad High Court on Friday granted interim protection from arrest until December 17 to Bhola Prasad and his son Shubham Jaiswal, who are accused of being the alleged kingpins of an extensive illegal codeine-based cough syrup (CBCS) trafficking network operating across Uttar Pradesh and beyond.
The father–son duo is suspected of masterminding a large, organised narcotics syndicate, allegedly built on a web of fake pharmaceutical companies, forged documents, and shell firms, enabling the movement of banned cough syrup under the guise of legitimate drug consignments.
Court Proceedings and Interim Relief
A Division Bench comprising Justice Siddhartha Varma and Justice Achal Sachdev passed the interim order while hearing writ petitions filed separately by Bhola Prasad and Shubham Jaiswal.
Both petitions challenge the First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against them in connection with the alleged drug trafficking operations.
The Bench directed that the State counsel be heard on the next date of hearing, December 17, and ordered that no coercive action, including arrest, be taken against the petitioners until then.
Alleged Modus Operandi of the Syndicate
According to the prosecution, Shubham Jaiswal and his father engineered a high-volume supply chain that moved codeine-laced cough syrup from stock points in Ghaziabad and Varanasi to multiple destinations, including Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, and across international borders into Nepal and Bangladesh.
Investigators allege that the duo used multiple front companies to camouflage illegal drug consignments as genuine pharmaceutical shipments, allowing them to bypass regulatory scrutiny and law enforcement checks.
Major Seizure in Sonbhadra
The case gained momentum following a major raid in Sonbhadra on October 18, when police recovered 12,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup concealed inside cartons of snack items.
The concealment, investigators say, was intended to evade detection during transportation.
During questioning, truck drivers allegedly revealed that the seized consignment originated from one of Shubham Jaiswal’s shell firms and was routed through his network of contacts in Ghaziabad.
From there, the syrup was reportedly transported onward and eventually smuggled across international borders, raising concerns of a well-entrenched transnational narcotics operation.
Multiple FIRs Across Districts
Authorities have registered multiple FIRs against Shubham Jaiswal and Bhola Prasad in Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Jaunpur, and several other districts of Uttar Pradesh.
The cases relate to violations under narcotics and drug control laws, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
Law enforcement agencies maintain that the scale of operations, use of forged documentation, and cross-border links point to a highly organised and professionally run drug trafficking network.
What Lies Ahead
With the High Court set to hear the State’s response on December 17, the interim protection has provided temporary relief to the accused.
However, investigators continue to pursue the case, and officials indicate that further evidence related to financial trails, shell companies, and international linkages is under scrutiny.
The case is being closely watched, given its implications for drug trafficking, pharmaceutical misuse, and cross-border narcotics smuggling in northern India.
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