Arushad Khalid has been released from police custody once again.

Arushad, accused of being a drug kingpin by the Maldives Police Service (MPS), was brought into police custody most recently, under a court order.

The police institution revealed that he has since been released, due to lack of evidence to hold him in remand.

This is not the first time Arushad has been arrested and released from police custody.

The alleged drug kingpin refuted the allegations against him, being circulated on media, brushing them off as false accusations.

He said this at the Supreme Court as part of the appeal made by the state prosecutors regarding the appealed hearings on a High Court order to arrest Arushad, last June.

Presiding over the case in a three-judge bench is Judge Mahaz Ali Zahir. The remaining two judges are Dr. Azmiralda Zahir and Judge Husnu Al Suood.

The defendant’s lawyer stated that Arushad was arrested from neighboring Sri Lanka while he was there under a lawful visa which is yet to expire. The attorney noted that there have been reports that Arushad was deported from Sri Lanka, which was followed by his arrest.

The case was submitted after the defendant disobeyed a court order, ordering the police service to arrest and present Arushad to court.

The Prosecutor General’s Office revealed that the police had presented Arushad to court at 07:45pm on October 12, after he was released from custody.

Arushad was even provided with the relevant documents for his release.