Krisna Mandal and Anr v. The State of Assam

ORDER Date : 07.11.2024

Heard Mr. N.J. Dutta, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. D.P. Goswami, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State of Assam. Page No.# 2/3

¶2By this petition under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Surksha Sanhita, 2023, the accused-petitioners, namely, 1. Krisna Mandal and 2. Ananta Das have prayed for grant of bail in connection with Barpeta P.S. Case No.372/2024 under Section 21 (b)/29 of NDPS Act.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are habitual drug addict persons but they have been arrested only on suspicion. They have been in judicial custody since 28.09.2024. The learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that the petitioners were arrested for recovery of intermediate quantity of narcotics drugs weighing about 21.43 grams and they have been in judicial custody for last 41 days since their arrest on 28.09.2024. As such, considering length of detention, bail may be considered.

¶4The learned Addl.P.P. has produced the case diary without the FSL report and submits that as per case diary, the petitioners are mainly consumers of drugs and sometimes they also used to sell the same. However, length of detention may be considered.

¶5Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and on perusal of the case diary and the averments made in this petition, it appears that the petitioners are in judicial custody for about 41 days and as such, considering the length of detention, this Court is of the considered opinion that further custodial interrogation of the petitioners in the interest of investigation is not warranted.

¶6Accordingly, it is provided that the petitioners named above shall be released on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 50,000/- (Rupees fifty thousand) only each with two sureties each of the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Special Judge (NDPS Act), Barpeta, subject to the following conditions;-

(i) The petitioners shall not leave the territorial jurisdiction of Page No.# 3/3 learned Special Judge, Barpeta without prior written permission from him/her;

(ii) That the petitioners shall cooperate with the Investigating Officer as and when required;

(iii) That the petitioners shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Police Officer or the Court. Violation of any condition shall tentamount to cancellation of bail.

¶7Accordingly, the bail application stands disposed of.

¶8Return the case diary. JUDGE Comparing Assistant

Page No.# 1/3 GAHC010214132024 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : Bail Appln./3161/2024 KRISNA MANDAL AND ANR S/O KALACHAN MANDAL, R/O VILL- DEWRIKUCHI, P.S. AND DIST- BARPETA, ASSAM 2: ANANTA DAS S/O RABINDRA NATH DAS R/O VILL- DEWRIKUCHI P.S. AND DIST- BARPETA ASSA VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, ASSAM Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. N J DUTTA, MR. M M ZAMAN,MR A BASUMATARY,MR N AHMED Advocate for the Respondent : PP, ASSAM, BEFORE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE MALASRI NANDI