PRAYAGRAJ, Feb. 16 -- Observing that codeine preparations exceeding permissible limits attract the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the Allahabad high court recently denied bail to two accused in the codeine cough syrup racket case.

Justice Ashutosh Srivastava rejected the bail applications of Abdul Qadir and another on grounds that a huge quantity of illegally diverted codeine-based cough syrup was recovered from them.

The FIR was lodged under various sections of NDPS Act, 1985 and BNS, 2023 at Kotwali police station of Rampur district for illegal possession of 119 boxes containing 11,885 bottles of codeine- based cough syrup, which was recovered from them while they were loading them in a car.

Applying for...