The North Goa Principal District and Sessions Court has cancelled the bail granted to Israeli national Yaniv Benaim alias Atala, originally on 20 August 2025 in the case registered by the Goa Anti Narcotics Cell.
Atala was arrested by ANC on 5 April 2025 for alleged illegal possession of cocaine and charas. The Goa government had challenged the Sessions Court’s 20 August 2025 order granting bail before the High Court, disputing the lower court’s observation that “the trial against Atala in the drugs case, and in the attempt-to-murder case registered in April 2019 by Anjuna Police, should proceed simultaneously and be completed within the validity period of Atala’s passport.”
The High Court found that observation untenable and directed Atala to file a fresh bail application before the trial court, while instructing the trial court to reconsider bail afresh. After rehearing Atala’s fresh bail application, the trial court on Friday dismissed the application.
Rejecting Atala’s fresh bail application, the court observed: “It is clear from the material available on record that Atala has been convicted in two cases involving bodily offences, while three cases are still pending against him. Furthermore, Atala has failed to disclose his criminal antecedents in his bail application.
In view of Atala’s criminal antecedents and his convictions based on pleas of guilt, wherein he admitted to committing offences under the NDPS Act and the Foreigners Act and to entering India unlawfully without a valid visa and passport, and considering the possibility that he may abscond if granted bail, Atala is not entitled to bail.” Atala was absent from court for Friday’s proceedings; his counsel sought exemption from personal appearance. Noting that Atala’s bail had already been cancelled and that he was not present to attend the trial, the court issued a proclamation against him, returnable on 24 August.
