"Atala", Israeli suspected of drug trafficking in India, turns himself in

Yaniv Banaim, the Israeli known as "Atala" suspected of drug trafficking in India, appeared in court in North Goa and turned himself in. The Bombay High Court ordered him to appear by September 16. Banaim was absent from legal proceedings after a special court rejected a bail request, and an arrest warrant was issued against him. His bail request will be heard on September 21.

Yaniv Banaim, the Israeli known as "Atala" suspected of drug trafficking in India, turned himself in to the court in North Goa. According to reports in Indian media, Banaim appeared in court around noon, in accordance with the order of the Bombay High Court in Goa from September 9, which stated that he must appear before the court handling the case by September 16. Banaim was absent from legal proceedings after the special court for drug offenses in North Goa rejected a new bail request he filed last month. Consequently, an arrest warrant was issued against him without the possibility of bail, and a Look-Out Circular was also issued against him. The High Court ordered him to surrender as part of the hearing on his petition against the rejection of the bail request. After leaving the court, Banaim told journalists that he had done nothing wrong and expressed confidence that he would receive justice in the High Court. Banaim was arrested by the Goa anti-drug unit in April 2025, following a raid on his apartment in Siolim. According to the unit, materials suspected to be drugs and a sum of 870,000 rupees in cash were seized during the raid. His bail request is expected to be heard on September 21.