By Firstdespatch Desk May 24, 2026
Agartala, May 24 (FD) In a major development in the high-profile Phensedyl smuggling case linked to Jirania Railway Station, investigating agencies have submitted a chargesheet against seven accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act following completion of the primary phase of the investigation.
The case had drawn significant attention across Tripura after authorities seized a massive quantity of Phensedyl cough syrup, estimated to be worth nearly Rs 2 crore in the illegal market. The recovery exposed an alleged interstate and cross-border drug trafficking network operating through the state.
According to official sources, the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Special Task Force (STF) initially launched an investigation after recovering the contraband from an express train at Jirania Railway Station in October last year. During the operation, police seized approximately 1,07,800 bottles of Phensedyl, making it one of the largest such recoveries in the region.
The investigation was subsequently transferred for an extensive probe. During the course of the investigation, several accused were arrested from different parts of the country. Those arrested include Rajib Dasgupta from the Maharajganj area, transport businessman Arun Kumar Ghosh, Himangshu Bai and Sourav Tyagi from Delhi, and Deep Prakash Gupta from Uttar Pradesh. All are currently in judicial custody.
The alleged mastermind of the network, Apurba Ranjan Das, however, remains absconding. Investigators suspect that he may have fled across the international border to evade arrest.
The chargesheet has been filed before the Special Court of West Tripura under Sections 21(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act. The investigating agency has also sought continuation of judicial custody of the accused and requested expedited trial proceedings, citing the seriousness of the offence.
Investigators believe the case may be linked to a larger interstate and international narcotics network. Officials acknowledged that despite the major seizure at Jirania, narcotics trafficking routes through Tripura remain a concern. Agartala Railway Station and other transit points have also witnessed multiple seizures in recent years, although none have matched the scale of the Jirania recovery.
Security agencies continue to investigate possible links and wider operational networks as efforts intensify to curb narcotics trafficking in the region. The filing of the chargesheet is being viewed as a significant step in the legal process, while the continued absence of the alleged kingpin remains a key concern for investigators. FD JK