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world1 day ago
He was released by a Dubai Court on Wednesday night hours after his trial proceedings began on a mercy petition filed by his wife, said Indian consulate officials here.
Bidappa was detained for 33 days for allegedly carrying 1.6 grams of marijuana in his hand bag while travelling from India at the Dubai International Airport on June 11.
"Bidappa's case is over and all charges against him have been dropped. He has been pardoned by the court based on the mercy petition filed by his wife as well as the one which the Indian embassy filed," said R. K. Kapil, acting Consul-General of India.
Sources also say that the decision could have been based on the fact that the quantity of the drugs seized was quite small and could not have been used for trafficking. He was in the city to attend a fashion meet and a children's programme.
Bidappa's wife and theatre personality Judith, who invited controversy earlier when making comments to a local newspaper saying that he was a regular smoker of marijuana, is also rumoured to be in the city. His two children are still in Bangalore.
The designer is also yet to receive his passport from the authorities following which he would be flying back to India.
"His passport is still with the Police as it was a holiday on Thursday and Friday. Hopefully, he should be getting it any time today and would be leaving soon after that," said Kapil.
There was also some confusion regarding his release as on Wednesday, a Dubai Court adjourned the case's proceedings to July 27.
His friends in Bangalore from the fashion fraternity were exalted when they heard the news. "Thank God Prasad's ordeal is over. Now, we are just waiting for him to come back," said fellow fashion designer, Deepika Govind.
Designer Manoviraj Khosla said: "I'm glad that this has come to an end. We're all overjoyed to hear this news."
Despite repeated attempts made by Khaleej Times, Bidappa was unavailable for comment.
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