The Magistrate noted that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had failed to present any evidence establishing that the suspect had committed an offence punishable under Section 54(a) of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance or disclosed any offence under Section 115(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act.
Accordingly, the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to justify her continued detention and ordered her release on bail.
Lakshani was released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 with three sureties of Rs. 200,000 each. The court also imposed a travel ban and directed her to report to the Financial Investigations Division of the CID every Sunday between 9 a.m. and 12 noon.
The case was fixed for January 22 to review the progress of the investigation.
