The Bombay High Court has granted bail to Kyle Cummings, a 23-year-old wrestler from Pune, who was arrested for allegedly ordering 281 grams of methamphetamine, or MDMA, from Belgium through a courier. Cummings, who represents India in international arm-wrestling competitions, was arrested on May 21, 2024, along with two others, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The Special Investigation and Intelligence Branch (SIIB) had intercepted the parcel at the foreign post office based on specific intelligence. On inspection, the parcel was found to contain 230 grams of a white substance that initial tests confirmed to be MDMA. Officials forwarded the parcel to Yerwada, Pune, and set a trap.
When the consignee, Shrawan Joshi, collected the parcel and paid customs duty, he was arrested. Investigators then arrested Cummings and Aryan Haldankar, linking them to the case. All three were booked under the NDPS Act.
Earlier, the sessions court had rejected Cummings’ bail plea, saying that there was sufficient evidence to suggest his involvement in the crime. However, during the High Court hearing, Cummings’ advocate, Lakshmi Raman, argued that his arrest was unlawful, citing a Division Bench order that had earlier granted bail to Joshi on similar grounds.
Raman noted that the parcel was addressed to Joshi, who was granted bail as the primary accused, and sought similar relief for Cummings. The prosecutor opposed the plea, arguing that Cummings was the main conspirator, using Joshi’s name and address to order the contraband.
Justice Manish Pitale, however, observed that the arrests of both Cummings and Joshi violated legal procedures, as outlined by the Supreme Court. Cummings was granted bail with conditions, including reporting to the Airport Special Cargo Commissionerate in Andheri East, Mumbai, on the first Monday of each month until the trial concludes.
