Read Time: 03 minutes

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed bail to Md Enamul Haque accused of smuggling cattle regularly, across the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting an investigation into the issue.

A bench of Justice DY Chnadrachud and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari noted, "We are of the considered opinion that continued custody is not warranted."

The Court was hearing a plea filed by Md Enamul Haque, accused in the Indo-Bangladesh border cattle smuggling case, challenging an order of the Calcutta High Court refusing to entertain the bail application.

Sr. Adv. Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Haque, submitted that all the accused have been enlarged on bail, whereas, the offenses are subject to a maximum sentence of 7 years only.

However, Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi appearing for the CBI, submitted that the applicant is habituated to the offense of smuggling and that this would implicate national security.

The bench, however, was of the opinion that "continued custody is not warranted" considering the offense and maximum sentence involved as Haque has already suffered custody for more than a year.

It may also be noted that the petition filed by former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Vinay Mishra challenging order of the Calcutta High Court in an investigation being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation against Mishra in an Indo-Bangladesh Border coal and cattle smuggling case is pending before the bench.

In addition to this the plea(s) filed by Anup Majee, challenging the order of the Calcutta High Court allowing CBI to investigate the case pertaining to illegal mining coal mining and cattle smuggling case are also pending.

Case Title: Md Enamul Haque Vs. Cenral Bureau of Investigation