VARANASI, Feb. 16 -- A joint team from Mughalsarai police station and the crime branch of Chandauli Police on Sunday temporarily froze illegal immovable properties worth approximately Rs.3.5 crore allegedly acquired through drug trafficking in connection with a case involving the smuggling of codeine-based cough syrup. The properties belong to accused Swapnil Kesari and his family members. A case has been registered against Kesari under Sections 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340(2), and 61(2)(a) of the BNS, along with Sections 8/9V(A), 21, 27A, and 29 of the NDPS Act, for his alleged involvement in the illegal trade of codeine-based cough syrup. Chandauli superintendent of police Aditya Langeh said that a joint team of the district police and crime branch initiated action under Section 68F of the NDPS Act to freeze properties allegedly acquired through illegal smuggling activities. A total of six immovable properties belonging to the accused and his family members, located in Bechupur, Chandasi and Harishankarpur villages in Mughalsarai tehsil of Chandauli district, were frozen on Sunday. The estimated prevailing market value of the properties is around Rs.3.5 crore.htc...