Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 16: Israeli national Yaniv Benaim, alias Atala, who had been absconding in connection with a 2025 narcotics case, surrendered before the trial court at Merces in North Goa on Wednesday, complying with a Bombay High Court direction to appear before the lower court by September 16.

The court remanded Atala to 14 days of judicial custody. His bail application is pending before the Bombay High Court at Goa, with the matter scheduled to come up for hearing on September 21.

Atala surrendered around noon before the Merces court after a non-bailable warrant (NBW) had been issued against him following his failure to appear before the trial court. A Look-Out Circular (LOC) was also issued after he was declared absconding.

The Bombay High Court had on September 9 directed Atala to surrender before the trial court by September 16 while hearing his challenge against the rejection of his latest bail plea. The High Court had fixed September 21 for hearing his petition.

The case dates back to April 2025, when Atala was arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) following a raid at his apartment in Siolim, North Goa. The agency had claimed that narcotic substances and Rs 8.7 lakh in cash were recovered from the premises. He was subsequently booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

A lower court had granted Atala bail in August 2025, but the order was challenged before the High Court. On July 14, 2026, the Bombay High Court set aside the bail order. Atala subsequently approached the High Court after the North Goa Special NDPS Court rejected his fresh bail plea in August and ordered issuance of an NBW following his failure to appear.

The High Court later directed him to surrender before the trial court by September 16, after which his bail challenge is to be considered.

Following Wednesday's surrender, Atala was taken into judicial custody.