Summary: Okoli Anayo Franklin's request to be released from jail while waiting for his trial was denied by the Delhi High Court. He was involved in a heroin case, and the court found important reasons to keep him locked up.
On November 9, 2021, Okoli Anayo Franklin, along with another person, was caught in Delhi. They were suspected of supplying heroin. The police stopped their car near Delhi University based on a tip-off. Although heroin was found on Franklin's companion, none was directly found on him.
Franklin's lawyer, Mr. Javed Khan, argued that Franklin was falsely accused since no drugs were found on him. The lawyer also pointed out that the police did not have independent witnesses or video evidence of the search and seizure.
Justice Saurabh Banerjee noted that Franklin had been in trouble with the law before. He was previously released on bail for another drug-related case from 2019. Franklin, a foreign national without a permanent address in India, might run away if released, making it hard to bring him back to court.
The co-accused, who was allowed to leave jail earlier, has since disappeared. This fact was important in the court's decision to deny Franklin's request to leave jail, as it showed the possible risk of letting him out.
Referring to past cases, the court highlighted the importance of not letting people out of jail in situations where there is a risk of affecting witnesses or messing with evidence. The court decided that letting Franklin out could make it harder to ensure justice is served.
On January 31, 2026, the court denied Franklin's request to be released from jail, keeping him locked up to make sure justice is served properly.
