The Mapusa court has granted bail to Danny Frank Braganza, a 49-year-old Mumbai resident, who was arrested by Saligao Police last week for alleged possession of ganja.
The accused, identified as Danny Frank Braganza, a resident of Andheri East, Mumbai, was apprehended by the Saligao police on October 28, 2026, during an anti-narcotics raid conducted along an internal road in Marra, Pilerne. According to the prosecution, Braganza was found in possession of suspected ganja. He was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Appearing for the accused, Advocate Salil Lawande argued that the seized contraband fell well within the statutory "small quantity" threshold of one kilogram, which carries a maximum punishment of up to one year of imprisonment or a fine. The defense contended that because the seizure had already been concluded and the evidence secured, further custodial detention served no useful purpose.
The prosecution, strongly opposed the bail application. The Investigating Officer submitted that Braganza, being a non-resident of Goa, posed a flight risk. Police also raised concerns that releasing the accused could hinder ongoing investigations to trace the drug supply chain and might lead to witness tampering or repeat offenses.
Granting bail to the accused, the court noted that the stringent bail conditions under Section 37 of the NDPS Act do not apply to small quantities and observed that the accused had already been remanded to judicial custody and was no longer required for custodial interrogation.
The magistrate ruled that the prosecution's apprehensions could be addressed by imposing strict conditions rather than continuing detention. Braganza was directed to be released on a personal bond of ₹15,000 along with one local surety of the same amount. As part of the bail conditions, he must report to the Saligao Police Station for six consecutive days, cooperate fully with investigators, and refrain from leaving Goa or India without prior court permission.
