Aashish Verma v. Union of India

o o 1o o o 119o(4ocases)o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoAToINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANA ATo CHANDIGARHoCHANDIGARH o o o o o 1.o CRM-M-54358-2025o1. CRM 54358 2025 AashishoVermaoo ….Petitionero versuso o UnionoofoIndiaothoughoNarcoticsoControloBureau,oAmritsaroZonaloUnit,o Amritsarooo ….Respondento o o o 2.o CRM-M-2983-2026o VarunoKumaroo ….Petitionero versuso o UnionoofoIndia,oNarcoticsoControloBureau,oAmritsaro ….Respondento o o o 3.o CRM-M-1520-2026o Dineshoo ….Petitionero versuso o UnionoofoIndiaothroughoNarcoticsoControloBureau,oAmritsaro ….Respondento o o o 4.o CRM-M-65090-2025o BiramoRamoPooniyao@oVeeruoo ….Petitionero versuso o UnionoofoIndiaoo ….Respondento o DateoofoDecision:oFebruaryo11,o2026o DateoofoUploading:oFebruaryo12,o2026o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo o Present:-o Mr.oR.S.oCheema,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.oA.S.oCheema,oAdvocateoandoo

o o o o 2o o o o Mr.oSatishoSharma,oAdvocateoforotheopetitionero o o (inoCRM-M-54358-2025).ooo o o o Mr.oBhupenderoSingh,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o (inoCRM-M-2983-2026).oo o o o Mr.oD.N.oGaneriwala,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o (inoCRM-M-1520-2026).oo o o o Mr.oA.S.oKhosa,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o (inoCRM-M-65090-2025).oo o o o Mr.oSourabhoGoel,oSpecialoPublicoProsecutor,oNCBowithoo o o Ms.oAnjuoBansal,oAdvocate,oo o o Ms.oGeetikaoSharma,oAdvocate,oo o o Ms.oHimanshioGautam,oAdvocate,oo o o Ms.oSakshioGautam,oAdvocateoandoo o o Ms.oSamriddhioJain,oAdvocateoforotheorespondent.oo o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(ORAL)oo o o o Byowayoofotheopresentocommonojudgment,othisoCourtoproceedsotoo adjudicateo theo aforesaido fouro petitionso togethero ino viewo ofo theo admittedo commonalityoofofactualomatrixoandocongruityoofolegaloissuesoinvolvedotherein,o asofairlyoconcededobyotheolearnedocounseloappearingoforotheorespectiveoparties.oo o o Forotheosakeoofoconvenienceo&obrevity,otheofactsoareoextractedo fromoCRM-M-54358-2025otitledoasoAashishoVermaoversusoUnionoofoIndia,oCRM 54358 2025 AashishoVermaoversusoUnionoofoIndia,o throughoNarcoticsoControloBureau,oAmritsaroZonaloUnit,oAmritsar.oo

2.o o Presento petitionso haveo beeno filedo undero Sectiono 483o ofo theo BharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023o(foroshorto'BNSS')oseekingogranto oforegularobailotootheopetitioner(s),oinoNCBoCaseoNo.04odatedo07.02.2025,o registeredounderoSectionso8,o22(c),o25,o29o&o60oofotheoNarcoticoDrugsoando PsychotropicoSubstancesoAct,o1985o(foroshorto'NDPSoAct'),oatoPoliceoStationo NarcoticsoControloBureau,oAmritsaroZonaloUnit,oAmritsar.oo

o o o o 3o o

3.o o AsoperocaseosetupobyotheoNarcoticsoControloBureau,otheocomplainto inoquestionoinvolvesorecoveryoofocommercialoquantityoofocontraband,odetails,o whereoforeadsothus:o Sr.o DateoofoSeizureo PlaceoofoSeizureo Drugoseizedo No.o

1.o 07.02.2025o AtoPeeroBabaoDargaah,o 5,000otabletsoofoTramadoloHydrochlorideo Thathiyao Nearo Petrolo Pump,o Jandialao Tarno TaranoRoad,oAmritsaro

2.o 08/09.02.2025o Jo Ro Pharmaceuticals,o 16,860otabletsoofoTramadoloHydrochlorideo PlotoNo.o–o27,oSector-7,o IIE,oSidcul,oHaridwar.o

3.oo 09.02.2025o Jo Ro Pharmaceuticals,o 187o bottleso ofo Barcadino (witho codeine)o 100mlo PlotoNo.o–o27,oSector-7,o ando140obottlesoofoCSPo(withocodeine)o100oml.o IIE,oSidcul,oHaridwar.o

4.o 15.02.2025o Jo Ro Pharmaceuticals,o 80.720o Kgso ofo Tramadolo Hydrochlorideo looseo PlotoNo.o–o27,oSector-7,o tabletso IIE,oSidcul,oHaridwar.o

5.o 17o too Jo Ro Pharmaceuticals,o 8,89,064o bottleso ofo Codenieo Phosphateo Cougho

28.02.2025o PlotoNo.o–o27,oSector-7,o Syrupo100ml.o IIE,oSidcul,oHaridwar.o

6.o 28.03.2025o IKONo Pharmachemo 240otabletsoofoAlprazolamoando1560otabletsoofo Pvt.o Ltd.o Selaqui,o TramadoloHydrochlorideo Dehraduno

7.o 29.03.2025o Shopo No.o –o F27,o 1,24,200otabeltsoofoAlproazolamo TransportoNagar,oSewlao Kalan,o Dehradun,o Uttarkhand.o

8.o 18o too Jo Ro Pharmaceuticals,o 11,693o Bottleso ofo Codeineo Phosphateo Cougho

20.04.2025o PlotoNo.o–o27,oSector-7,o Syrupo ando 2.982o Kgso ofo Whiteo Powdero ofo IIE,oSidcul,oHaridwar.o Tramadolo(Suspected).o

9.o 10o too IKONo Pharmachemo 931opacketsocontainingoapprox.o156,465obottleso

17.06.2025o Pvt.o Ltd.,o Selaqui,o ofo CBCS,o approx.o 178,9600o tabletso ofo Dehraduno Psychotropicomedicine,orawomaterialoofo304.94o Kgo Tramadolo Hcl,o 44.47o Kgo ofo Codenieo Phosphate,o7.04oKgoAlprazolamoandoapproxo643o Kgo rawo materialso ofo othero psychotropico &o narcoticsoholdoinoprocessoproducto

10.o 12.08.2025o M/soDigitaloVision,o176o 1,368o capsuleso ofo Tramadolo +o 16o bottleso ofo Mouzao Ogli,o Nahano CodeineoPhosphateoCoughosyrupo Road,o Kala-amb,o Sirmour,oHPo

11.o 09/o10.11.2025o M/so Vellintono 50,000oampouleso(2omloeach)o100omgoTramadol,o Healthcare,o Vill-5,000oVialso(10omloeach)oMidazolam,o12.060oKgo Rampuro Jatan,o ofo Tramadolo HCL,o 0.300o Kgo ofo Midazolamo Trilokpuro Road,o Kala-Hydrochloride,oti.980oKgoofoLorazepam,oti.570o amb,oSirmour,oHPo Kgo ofo Diazepam,o 1.050o Kgo ofo Pentazocineo powdero

12.o 11.10.2025o M/soDigitaloVision,o176o o Mouzao Ogli,o Nahano Road,o Kala-amb,o Sirmour,oHPo

13.o 12.11.2025o too M/soDigitaloVision,o176o 12olakhsotabletsoofoNRx/oPsychotropicomedicineo

16.11.2025o Mouzao Ogli,o Nahano ando 150.62o Kgo ofo NRx/o Psychotropico Rawo Road,o Kala-amb,o materials,o23.674oKgoofoDispensedoPsychotropico

o o o o 4o o Sirmour,oHPo Rawo materials,o 165.840o Kgo ofo Compressed/o coatedo Psychotropico Tablets,o 271.10o Kgo Psychotropico Granuleso Powdero Substanceo ando

573.100o Kgo ofo Tramadolo HCLo Granuleso (mixtureoreadyoforofilingoinocapsules)obulko o

4.o o Learnedo senioro counselo foro theo petitionero (ino CRM-M-54358-2025)ohasoarguedothatotheopetitioneroisoinocustodyosinceo13.05.2025.oLearnedo seniorocounselohasofurtherosubmittedothatomandatoryoprovisionsoofotheoNDPSo Actohaveonotobeenoscrupulouslyocompliedowith,oandothus,otheoprosecutionocaseo suffersofromoinherentodefects.oLearnedoseniorocounselohasoiteratedothatotheotrialo haso noto progressedo witho dueo expeditiono ando theo delayo thereofo cannoto beo fastenedo upono theo petitioner.o Learnedo senioro counselo haso iteratedo thato theo petitioneroisooneoofotheodirectorsoofotheoIKONoPharmachemoPrivateoLimited,oao dulyo licensedo pharmaceuticalo entity,o situatedo ino Dehradun,o authorizedo too manufactureoandodistributeodrugsoandothatotheoCompanyoholdsovalidolicenseo undero Scheduleso C,oC(I)o ando Xoofo theoDrugso ando Cosmeticso Rules,o 1945.o Learnedoseniorocounselohasoarguedothatotheosaidocompanyohasonotoeffectedoanyo directo saleo too individualo unauthorizedo entitieso lackingo requisiteo licences.o LearnedoseniorocounselohasoarguedothatoTiwarioMedicaloAgencies,owhooisoao dulyo registeredo ando authorizedo dealer/o distributoro undero theo Drugo ando CosmeticoRules,o1945,ohadovalidolicenceofromo22.12.2023otoo21.12.2028,oino betweeno which,o theo saido distributoro hado placedo purchaseo order(s)o withotheo IKONocompany.oLearnedoseniorocounselohasoarguedothatotheoentireorecordoofo theocompanyodulyostandsosuppliedotootheoinvestigatingoofficeroandoevenotheo complaintohasoalreadyobeenofiledobyotheoNCBoono08.05.2025.oLearnedosenioro counselohasoarguedothatotheoprosecutionohasoerroneouslyolinkedo"Trekam-100"o tablets,o allegedlyo manufacturedo byo JRo Pharmaceuticals,o witho IKONo

o o o o 5o o Pharmachem,o whereaso theo saido batcho waso nevero evero manufacturedo byo petitioner'so companyo -o IKONo Pharmachem.o Learnedo senioro counselo haso furthero arguedo thato theo petitionero iso operatingo undero valido manufacturingo licenceoandothatoheocannotoipsoofactoobeoequatedowithoillicitotraffickingoundero theoNDPSoAct.oLearnedoseniorocounselohasoarguedothatoevenoassumingocertaino distributors,o includingo Tiwario Medicalo Agencies,o wereo allegedlyo foundo dealingo ino counterfeito products,o aso pero prosecutiono case,o theo petitioner'so Companyohadodulyoverifiedotheirolicencesoandosupportingodocumentsoatotheo timeoofoenteringointoocommercialotransaction(s).oLearnedoseniorocounselohaso iteratedothatonoodirectorecoveryoisoeffectedofromotheopetitioneroandothatoallegedo seizure(s)ofromothirdopartiesocannot,owithoutocogentomaterial,obeoattributedotoo theohim.oOnotheseobasis,oitoisocontendedothatostatutoryoembargoounderoSectiono 37oofotheoNDPSoActoisonotoattracted.oo

4.1.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionero(inoCRM-M-2983-2026),oaparto fromosubmissionsomadeobyolearnedoSeniorocounsel,oasoaforesaid,ohasoarguedo thatotheopetitioneroisoinocustodyosinceo25.05.2025.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedo thato theo petitionero waso noto namedo ino theo complainto ando haso onlyo beeno implicated,oinothisocase,oonotheobasisoofodisclosureostatementoofotheoco-accused,o whichoisonotopermissibleoinotheoeyesoofolaw.ooLearnedocounselohasoarguedothato companyoofotheopetitioner,onamely,oKvatioHealthcareoPvt.oLtd.oisoregisteredo andodulyoauthorizedofirmohavingovalidolegalolicenceoforosaleo(forodistribution)o ofodrugsootherothanothoseospecifiedoinoSchedulesoC,oC(I)oandoXotootheoDrugso andoCosmeticsoRules,o1945.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedothatotheopetitionero hasonotoreceivedoorosoldoevenoaosingleotableotooanyoindividual.oo

o o o o 6o o

4.2.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionero(inoCRM-M-1520-2026),oaparto fromosubmissionsomadeobyolearnedoSeniorocounsel,oasoaforesaid,ohasoarguedo thatotheopetitioneroisoinocustodyosinceo13.06.2025.oLearnedocounselohasoiteratedo thato allegedo recoveryo ofo 5,000o tabletso waso effectedo fromo maino accused,o namelyoAashuoArora,oono07.02.2025.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedothatotheo petitionerowasotheoproprietoroofoM/soRamaoMediconeoandotheosameoisodulyo licensedofirm.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedothatosinceoheosufferedoloss,oasoao resulto ofo which,o heo closedo hiso aforesaido shopo ino December,o 2024o ando thereafter,othereowasonoodealingoofoanyosort.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedothato theopetitioner,oneitherohasoanyoconcernowithoAashuoArora,ofromowhomoallegedo contrabandowasorecoveredonorohaveoanyobusinessoorofinancialodealingsowithoJRo Pharmaceuticalsooroitsoproprietors.oo

4.3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero (ino CRM-M-65090-2025),o apartofromosubmissionsomadeobyolearnedoSeniorocounsel,oasoaforesaid,ohaso arguedothatotheopetitioneroisoinocustodyosinceo11.09.2025.oLearnedocounselohaso arguedothatotheopetitionerowasonotonamedoinotheocomplaintoandoheohasobeeno implicated,oinothisocase,oonotheobasisoofodisclosureostatement,owhichoisonoto permissibleo undero law.o Learnedo counselo haso arguedo thato theo petitionero iso merelyoworkingoasoaohelperoinoM/soShivamoDistributor.oLearnedocounselohaso iteratedo thato theo petitionero haso noo knowledgeo abouto theo aforesaido firmo allegedlyobeingobogus/ofake.oo o o Apartofromoabove,olearnedoseniorocounseloandootherocounsel,oino respectiveocases,ohaveoarguedothatouponoculminationoofoinvestigation,ochallano standsopresentedoandototalo49oprosecutionowitnessesohaveobeenocited,ooutoofo

o o o o 7o o which,ononeohasobeenoexaminedotillodate.oNothingoisotoobeorecoveredofromotheo petitioners.o Theo petitionerso haveo sufferedo substantialo incarcerationo ando noo usefulopurposeowouldobeoservedobyokeepingotheopetitionersobehindobars.oThus,o regularobailoisoprayedofor.oo

5.o o Pero contra,o learnedo counselo foro theo respondento –o NCBo haso opposedotheopresentopetitionsobyoarguingothatotheoallegationsoraisedoagainstotheo petitioner(s)oareoseriousoinonatureoand,othus,otheopetitioner(s)odoonotodeserveo theoconcessionoofotheoregularobail.oo

5.1.o o Learnedocounseloforotheorespondento–oNCBohasoarguedothatotheo petitionero(AshishoVerma)oisotheodirectoroofoIKONoPharmachemoPvt.oLtd.,o DehradunoandoassociateoofoPrafuloPrakashoSharma.oHeohadosuppliedotheoseizedo AlprazolamoTabletsoandoTramadolotabletsoandowasoinvolvedoinodiversionoofo psychotropicomedicinesoasoheosuppliedotheosaidomedicineotootheonon-existenceo firms.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedothatothereoareoCDRoandoWahtsAppodetailso etc.otoosubstantiateotheoguiltoofotheopetitioner.oo

5.2.o o Learnedocounseloforotheorespondento–oNCBohasoarguedothatotheo petitionero(VarunoKumar)ohasoarguedothatotheopetitioneroisotheoowneroofoKvatio HealthcareoPvt.oLtd.oandoassociateoofoAjeetoSinghoofoJoRoPharmaceuticalsoando PrafuloPrakashoSharmaoandoisoinvolvedoinodiversionoofopsychotropicomedicineo toonon-existenceofirms.oo

5.3.o o Learnedocounseloforotheorespondento–oNCBohasoarguedothatotheo petitionero (Dinesh)o haso arguedo thato theo petitionero iso theo ownero ofo Ramao Medicose,o Mandore,o Jodhpur,o Rajasthano ando iso involvedo ino diversiono ofo TramadoloTablets.oo

o o o o 8o o

5.4.oo o Learnedocounseloforotheorespondento–oNCBohasoarguedothatotheo petitionero(BiramoRamoPooniyao@oVeeru)ohasoarguedothatotheopetitioneroisotheo owneroofoM/soShivamoDistributor,oNagaur,oRajasthan,owhooisoalsooinvolvedoino diversionoofoTramadoloTabletsothroughothisofirm.oo

5.5.o o Apartofromoabove,olearnedocounseloforotheorespondento–oNCBohaso arguedothatohugeonarcoticsocontrabandohasobeenorecovered,oinotheopresentocase,o ando theo same,o beingo commercialo ino nature,o fallso undero theo provisionso ofo Sectiono 37o ofo theo NDPSo Act.o Learnedo counselo haso furthero submittedo thato petitionsoinohandoareobarredobyotheorigorsoofoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoActoando are,othus,oliableotoobeorejectedoonothisoscoreoalone.oInocase,otheopetitioner(s)oareo releasedo ono bail,o thereo iso allo likelihoodo thato theyo mayo abscondo fromo theo processoofojusticeoandoalsoointerfereowithotheoprosecutionoevidence/owitnesses.o LearnedoStateocounseloseeksotooplaceoonorecordocustodyocertificate(s)odatedo

08.02.2026,oinotheoCourtotoday,owhichoareotakenoonorecord.oo

6.o o Iohaveoheardocounseloforotheorivalopartiesoandoperusedotheopaper-bookoasoalsootheorecordoproducedobeforeome.oo

7.o o Beforeodelvingofurtherointootheomeritsoofotheocase,oitowouldobeo appositeotooreferohereinotootheofollowingocase-lawogermaneotootheomatter(s)oino issue:o

i)o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoUnionoofoIndiao versusoNamdeooAshrubaoNakade,oSpecialoLeaveotooAppealo(Crl.)o No.9792/2025,ohasoheldoasounder:o "8.oo ThisoCourtoisoofotheoviewothatotheoissueoofosubstanceoabuseo haso emergedo aso ao globalo publico healtho crisiso ino theo twenty-firsto century,oaffectingoeveryocountryoworldwide,oasodrugotraffickingoando addictiono haveo becomeo pervasive.o Theo Unitedo Nationso Officeo ono

o o o o 9o o DrugsoandoCrimeo(UNODC)oreportedoinoitso2025oWorldoDrugoReporto thato "Aso ato 2023,o someo 316o milliono peopleo worldwideo hado usedo drugsoinotheopastoyear,orepresentingoanoincreaseooverotheopastodecadeo thato outpaceso populationo growth,o whicho indicateso ao highero prevalenceoofodrugouse."oo

9.oo InoIndia,othereohasobeenoaoconcerningoincreaseoinodrugoabuseo amongo theo youth.o Substanceo abuseo noto onlyo affectso individuals,o families,oandocommunitiesobutoalsoounderminesovariousoaspectsoofo healthoincludingophysical,osocial,opolitical,oculturalofoundations,oando mentalo well-being.o (See:o "Bhattacharyao S,o Menono GS,o Gargo S,o GroveroA,oSaleemoSM,oKushwahaoP.oTheolingeringomenaceoofodrugo abuseo amongo theo Indiano youtho –o it'so timeo foro action.o Indiano Jo CommunityoMedo2025;50:S9-12,opublishedoono17thoApril,o2025")oo

10.oo Accordingotoomanyonewsoreports,oIndiaofacesoaoclearodilemmao betweenotacklingotheonarcoticsocrisisosystematicallyoorosacrificingoitso mostovaluableoresourceoi.e.oitsoyoungopeople.oTheoextentoofomenaceo ofodrugoabuseohasoalsoobeenohighlightedobyothisoCourtoinotheocaseoofo AnkushoVipanoKapoorov.oNationaloInvestigationoAgency,o(2025)o5o SCCo155owhereinothisoCourtohasoobservedoasounder:oo "9.1oo Theo illso ofo drugo abuseo seemo too beo shadowingo theo lengthoandobreadthoofoourocountryowithotheoCentraloandoeveryo StateoGovernmentofightingoagainstotheomenaceoofosubstanceo abuse.oTheodebilitatingoimpactoofodrugotradeoandodrugoabuseo isoanoimmediateoandoseriousoconcernoforoIndia.oAsotheoglobeo grappleso witho theo menaceo ofo escalatingo Substanceo Useo Disorderso("SUD")oandoanoeveroaccessibleodrugomarket,otheo consequencesoleaveoaogenerationaloPageo75oofo84oimprintoono publicohealthoandoevenonationalosecurity.oArticleo47oofotheo ConstitutionomakesoitoaodutyoofotheoStateotooregardotheoraisingo ofo theo levelo ofo nutritiono ando theo standardo ofo livingo ofo itso peopleoandotheoimprovementoofopublicohealthoasoamongoitso primaryodutiesoandoinoparticularotheoStateoshalloendeavourotoo bringo abouto prohibitiono ofo theo consumptiono excepto foro medicinalopurposesoofointoxicatingodrinksoandoofodrugsowhicho areo injuriouso too health.o Theo Stateo haso ao responsibilityo too addresso theo rooto causeso ofo thiso predicamento ando developo effectiveo interventiono strategieso too ensureo thato India'so youngero population,o whicho iso particularlyo vulnerableo too substanceoabuse,oisoprotectedoandosavedofromosuchomenace.o Thiso iso particularlyo becauseo substanceo abuseo iso linkedo too socialo problemso ando cano contributeo too childo maltreatment,o spousaloviolence,oandoevenopropertyocrimeoinoaofamily."oo

11.oo Ino theo presento case,o thiso Courto findso thato thougho theo Respondent-accusedowasoinocustodyoforooneoyearofouromonthsoando chargeso haveo noto beeno framed,o yeto theo allegationso areo seriouso inasmucho aso noto onlyo iso theo recoveryo mucho ino excesso ofo theo commercialoquantityobutotheoRespondent-accusedoallegedlyogototheo cavitieso ingeniouslyo fabricatedo belowo theo trailoro too concealo theo contraband.oo

12.oo PrimaofacieothisoCourtoisoofotheoopinionothatotheoRespondent-accusedo iso involvedo ino drugo traffickingo ino ano organizedo manner.o Consequently,onoocaseoforodispensingowithomandatoryorequiremento ofoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoActoisomadeooutoinotheopresentomatter.oo

13.oo Moreover,othisoCourtoisoofotheoviewothatoasotheoaccusedohaso beeno chargedo witho offenceso punishableo witho teno too twentyo yearso

o o o o 10o o rigorousoimprisonment,oitocannotobeosaidothatotheoRespondentohaso beenoincarceratedoforoanounreasonablyolongotime."o o

ii)o Further,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoUniono ofoIndiaoversusoViginoK.oVarghese,oSpecialoLeaveoPetitiono(Crl.)o No(s).7768oofo2025,ohasoheldoasounder:o "15.oo Ato thiso stage,o twoo featureso stando out.o Theo Higho Court'so conclusionothatothereoisonoomaterialotooshowothatotheoapplicantohado anyoknowledgeoofotheococaineoinotheoconsignmentohasobeenoarrivedoato withouto discussiono ofo theo statementso ofo theo respondento ando circumstanceso reliedo upono byo theo prosecution,o includingo theo assertiono thato theo respondento hado placedo theo orderso foro import,o controlledo theo logisticso chain,o coordinatedo witho theo overseaso supplier,oandowasopresentowhenotheoconsignmentowasoopened.oTheo HighoCourtohasonotoexaminedowhetherothoseocircumstances,otakenoato faceovalueoforotheolimitedopurposeoofobail,ocouldoprimaofacieoindicateo consciouso controlo oro involvemento sufficiento too attracto theo presumptionoofoculpableomentalostateoindicatedounderoSectiono35oofo theoNDPSoAct.oo

16.oo Further,o whileo grantingo bail,otheoHighoCourto recordedothato thereowereonooantecedentsoagainstotheoapplicant.oTheomaterialobeforeo thisoCourtoincludesotheoUnion'soassertionothatotheorespondentohado alreadyobeenoapprehendedoinoconnectionowithoanoearlieroseizureoofo approximatelyo 198.1o kilogramso ofo Methamphetamineo ando 9.035o kilogramsoofoCocaineoallegedlyoimportedothroughotheosameochannelo onlyo dayso beforeo theo presento seizure.o Thato assertiono iso neithero noticedonoroansweredoinotheoimpugnedoorders.oo

17.oo Theo Higho Courto then,o ono theo strengtho ofo thoseo premises,o recordedoaofindingothatothereoexistoreasonableogroundsotoobelieveothato theoapplicantoisonotoguiltyoofotheoallegedooffence,otreatingoprolongedo incarcerationoandolikelyodelayoasotheojustificationoforobail.oSuchoao findingoisonotoaocasualoobservation.oItoisotheostatutoryothresholdoundero Sectiono37(1)(b)(ii)owhichowouldodisentitleotheodiscretionaryoreliefo andograntoofobailomustonecessarilyorestoonocarefuloappraisaloofotheo materialoavailable.oAoconclusionoofothisonature,oiforeturnedowithouto addressingo theo prosecution'so assertionso ofo operativeo controlo ando antecedento involvement,o riskso trenchingo upono appreciationo ofo evidenceo whicho wouldo beo ino theo domaino ofo trialo courto ato firsto instance."o o

iii)o Thiso Courto ino theo caseo ofo Jaswindero Singho aliaso Kalao versuso Stateo ofo Punjab,o passedo ino CRM-M-33729-2025o (2025:PHHC:089161)o =o 2025o SCCo OnLineo P&H4537;o aftero relyingouponotheoratioodecidendioofotheojudgmentsoofotheoHon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Uniono ofo Indiao vs.o Thamisharasio &o Ors,o

o o o o 11o o 1995(4)oSCCo190,oCustoms,oNewoDelhiovs.oAhmadalievaoNodira,o 2004o(3)oSCCo549,oUnionoofoIndiaovs.oShrioShivoShankeroKesari,o 2007(4)oRCR(Criminal)o186,oSatpaloSinghovs.oStateoofoPunjab,o 2018o (13)o SCCo 813,o Narcoticso Controlo Bureauo vs.o Mohito Aggarwal,o2022oLiveLawo(SC)o613,oMohd.oMuslimo@oHussaino vs.o Stateo (NCTo ofo Delhi)o 2023o LiveLawo (SC)o 260,o Narcoticso Controlo Bureauo vs.o Kashif,o 2024o INSCo 1045,o Usmanbhaio Dawoodbhaio Memono vs.o Stateo ofo Gujarat,o 1988(1)o RCR(Criminal)o540,oRanjitsingoBrahmajeetsingoSharmaovs.oStateo ofoMaharashtrao&oAnr.o2005(5)oSCCo294,oCentraloBureauoofo Investigationovs.oVs.oVijayoSaioReddy,o2013(3)oRCRo(Criminal)o 252,oMunicipaloCorporationoofoDelhiovs.oM/soJaganoNathoAshoko Kumaro ando another,o 1987(4)o SCCo 497,o Gujarato Watero Supplyo andoSewerageoBoardovs.oUniqueoErectorso(Gujarat)o(P)oLtd.,oando another,o 1987(1)o SCCo 532,o Collectoro ando otherso vs.o P.o Mangammao ando others,o 2003(4)o SCCo 488,o Commissionero ofo Income-tax,oDelhiovs.oS.oTejaoSingh,o1958oSCCoOnlineoSCo30,o Managemento ofo Advanceo Insuranceo Co.o Ltd.o Vs.o Shrio Gurudasmalo ando otherso 1970(1)o SCCo 633,o Tinsukhiao Electrico Supplyo Co.o Ltd.o Vs.o Stateo ofo Assam,o 1989(3)o SCCo 709o ando Commissionero ofo Incomeo Taxo vs.o Hindustano Bulko Carriers,o 2003(3)oSCCo57;ohasoheld,othus:oo "14.o o Asoaosequiturotooabove-saidorumination,otheofollowingo postulatesoemerge:o

(I)o (i)o Aobailopleaoonomerits;oinorespectoofoanoFIRounderoNDPSoActo ofo 1985o involvingo offence(s)o undero Sectiono 19o oro Sectiono 24o oro

o o o o 12o o Sectiono 27-Ao thereofo ando foro offence(s)o involvingo commercialo quantity;oisoessentiallyorequiredotoomeetowithotheorigour(s)oofoSectiono 37oofoNDPSoAct.ooo o o (ii)oo Theorigour(s)oofoSectiono37oofoNDPSoActodoonotoapplyotooao bailoplea(s)oonomedicaloground(s),ointerimobailoonoaccountoofoanyo exigencyoincludingotheoreasonoofodemiseoofoaocloseofamilyorelativeo etc.o o o o (iii)o Theorigour(s)oofoSectiono37oofoNDPSoActopaleointooobliviono whenobailoisosoughtoforoonoaccountoofolongoincarcerationoinoviewoofo Articleo21oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoi.e.owhereotheobail-applicanto hasosufferedolongounder-trialocustody,otheotrialoisoprocrastinatingoando follyothereofoisonotoattributableotoosuchobail-applicant.ooo o II.o TheotwinoconditionsocontainedoinoSectiono37(1)(b)oofoNDPSoActoareo inoadditionotootheoconditions/parametersocontainedoinoCr.P.C./BNSSo oroanyootheroapplicableoextantolaw.oo o III.o TheotwinoconditionsocontainedoinoSectiono37(1)(b)oofoNDPSoActoareo cumulativeoinonatureoandonotoalternativeoi.e.obothotheoconditionsoareo requiredotoobeosatisfiedoforoaobail-pleaotoobeosuccessful.ooo o IV.o ForoconsiderationobyobailoCourtoofotheoconditionostipulatedoinoSectiono 37(1)(b)(i)o ofo NDPSo Acto i.e.o "thereo areo reasonableo groundso foro believingothatoheoisonotoguiltyoofosuchooffence":o o

(i)o TheobailoCourtooughtotoosiftothroughoallorelevantomaterial,o includingo case-dairy,o exclusivelyo foro theo limitedo purposeo ofo adjudicatingosuchobailoplea.o o

(ii)o Sucho consideration,o concerningo theo assessmento ofo guilto oro innocence,oshouldonotomirrorotheosameodegreeoofoscrutinyorequiredo foro ano acquittalo ofo theo accusedo ato theo finalo adjudicationo &o culminationoofotrial.oo o

(iii)o Plea(s)o ofo defenceo byo applicant-accused,o ifo any,o includingo material/documentsoinosupportothereof,omayobeolookedointoobyotheo bail-Courtowhileoadjudicatingosuchobailoplea.ooo o V.o ForoconsiderationoofotheoconditionostipulatedoinoSectiono37(1)(b)(ii)o i.e.o'heoisonotolikelyotoocommitoanyooffenceowhileoonobail':o

(i)o Theo wordo 'likely'o oughto too beo interpretedo aso requiringo ao demonstrableoandosubstantialoprobabilityoofore-offendingobyotheobail-applicant,oratherothanoaomereotheoreticaloone,oasonooCourtocanopredicto futureoconductoofotheobail-applicant.oo o

(ii)o Theo entireo factualo matrixo ofo ao giveno caseo includingo theo antecedentso ofo theo bail-applicant,o roleo ascribedo too him,o ando theo natureo ofo offenceo areo requiredo too beo delvedo into.o o However,o theo involvementoofobail-applicantoinoanotheroNDPS/otherooffenceocannoto ipsoofactooresultoinotheoconclusionoofohisopropensityoforocommittingo offenceoinotheofuture.o o

(iii)o Theo bail-Courto may,o ato theo timeo ofo grantingo bail,o imposeo uponotheoapplicant-accusedoaoconditionothatoheowouldosubmit,oatosucho

o o o o 13o o regularotimeoperiod/intervaloasomayostipulatedobyotheoCourtograntingo bail,o ano affidavito beforeo concernedo Specialo Judgeo ofo NDPSo Court/Illaqao (Jurisdictional)o Judicialo Magistrate/concernedo Policeo Station,otootheoeffectothatoheohasonotobeenoinvolvedoinocommissionoofo anyooffenceoafterobeingoreleasedoonobail.ooInotheofactsoofoaogivenocase,o impositionoofosuchoconditionomayobeoconsideredotoobeosufficientoforo satisfactionoofoconditionoenumeratedoinoSectiono37(1)(b)(ii).ooo o VI.oo Thereoisonoogainsayingothatotheonature,omodeoandoextentoofoexerciseo ofopowerobyoaoCourt;owhileosatisfyingoitselforegardingotheoconditionso stipulatedoinoSectiono37oofoNDPSoAct;oshallodependouponotheojudicialo discretionoexercisedobyosuchoCourtoinotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofo aogivenocase.oNooexhaustiveoguidelinesocanopossiblyobeolaidodownoaso toowhatowouldoconstituteoparametersoforosatisfactionooforequiremento undero Sectiono 37o (ibid)o aso everyo caseo haso itso owno uniqueo facts/circumstances.o o Makingo sucho ano attempto iso nothingo buto ao utopiano endeavour.o o Ergo,o thiso issueo iso besto lefto too theo judicialo wisdomoandodiscretionoofotheoCourtodealingowithosuchomatter."o o

8.o o Theogranto ofo bailo fallso withinotheodiscretionaryo domaino ofo theo court;o however,o sucho discretiono musto beo exercisedo ino ao judiciouso ando principledomanner,oensuringoitoalignsowithoestablishedolegaloprecedentsoandotheo interestso ofo justice.o Whileo consideringo ao bailo application,o theo Courto musto evaluateofactorsosuchoasotheoexistenceoofoprimaofacieoevidenceoimplicatingotheo accused,otheonatureoandogravityoofotheoallegedooffence,oandotheoseverityoofotheo likelyosentenceouponoconviction.oTheoCourtomustoalsooassessotheolikelihoodoofo theoaccusedoabscondingooroevadingotheodueoprocessoofolaw,otheoprobabilityoofo theooffenceobeingorepeatedoandoanyoreasonableoapprehensionoofotheoaccusedo tamperingowithoevidenceooroinfluencingowitnesses.oAdditionally,otheocharacter,o antecedents,o financialo means,o societalo standingo ando overallo conducto ofo theo accusedoplayoaocrucialorole.oFurthermore,otheoCourtomustoweighotheopotentialo dangeroofobailounderminingotheoadministrationoofojusticeoorothwartingoitsodueo course.oAoprofitableoreferenceoinothisoregardoisomadeotootheojudgmentopassedo byotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtotitledoasoStateothroughoC.B.I.ovs.oAmaramanio Tripathi,o2005oAIRoSupremeoCourto3490,orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:oTripathi,o2005oAIRoSupremeoCourto3490,o

o o o o 14o o "14.oo Ito iso wello settledo thato theo matterso too beo consideredo ino ano applicationoforobailoareo(i)owhetherothereoisoanyoprimaofacieoororeasonableo groundotoobelieveothatotheoaccusedohadocommittedotheooffence;o(ii)onatureo andogravityoofotheocharge;o(iii)oseverityoofotheopunishmentoinotheoeventoofo conviction;o(iv)odangeroofoaccusedoabscondingoorofleeingoiforeleasedoonobail;o

(v)ocharacter,obehaviour,omeans,opositionoandostandingoofotheoaccused;(vi)o likelihoodoofotheooffenceobeingorepeated;o(vii)oreasonableoapprehensionoofo theowitnessesobeingotamperedowith;oando(viii)odanger,oofocourse,oofojusticeo beingothwartedobyograntoofobailo(seeoPrahladoSinghoBhatiov.oNCT,oDelhi,o 2001(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o377o(SC)o:2001(4)oSCCo280oandoGurcharanoSingho v.oStateo(DelhioAdministration),oAIRo1978oSupremeoCourto179).oWhileoao vagueoallegationothatoaccusedomayotamperowithotheoevidenceoorowitnesseso mayonotobeoaogroundotoorefuseobail,oifotheoaccusedoisoofosuchocharacterothato hiso mereo presenceo ato largeo wouldo intimidateo theo witnesseso oro ifo thereo iso materialotooshowothatoheowillouseohisolibertyotoosubvertojusticeoorotamperowitho theoevidence,othenobailowillobeorefused.oWeomayoalsooreferotootheofollowingo principleso relatingo too granto oro refusalo ofo bailo statedo ino Kalyano Chandrao Sarkarov.oRajeshoRanjan,o2004(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o254o(SC)o:2004(7)oSCCo 528o:"Theolawoinoregardotoograntoororefusaloofobailoisoveryowellosettled.oTheo courtograntingobailoshouldoexerciseoitsodiscretionoinoaojudiciousomanneroando notoasoaomatteroofocourse.oThoughoatotheostageoofograntingobailoaodetailedo examinationoofoevidenceoandoelaborateodocumentationoofotheomeritoofotheo caseo needo noto beo undertaken,o thereo iso ao needo too indicateo ino sucho orderso reasonsoforoprimaofacieoconcludingowhyobailowasobeingograntedoparticularlyo whereotheoaccusedoisochargedoofohavingocommittedoaoseriousooffence.oAnyo orderodevoidoofosuchoreasonsowouldosufferofromonon-applicationoofomind.oIto iso alsoo necessaryo foro theo courto grantingo bailo too considero amongo othero circumstances,otheofollowingofactorsoalsoobeforeograntingobail;otheyoare:oo a.oTheonatureoofoaccusationoandotheoseverityoofopunishmentoinocaseoofo convictionoandotheonatureoofosupportingoevidence.o b.o Reasonableo apprehensiono ofo tamperingo witho theo witnesso oro apprehensionoofothreatotootheocomplainant.o c.oPrimaofacieosatisfactionoofotheocourtoinosupportoofotheocharge.o(seeo RamoGovindUpadhyayov.oSudarshanoSingh,o2002(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o250o

(SC)o:o2002(3)oSCCo598oandPuranov.oRamoBilas,o2001(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o 801o(SC)o:o2001(6)oSCCo338."o o

o o o o 15o o ThisoCourtoalsooinospecificotermsoheldothato:o "theoconditionolaidodownounderosectiono437(1)(i)oisosineoquaononoforo grantingobailoevenounderosectiono439oofotheoCode.oInotheoimpugnedoorderoito isonoticedothatotheoHighoCourtohasogivenotheoperiodoofoincarcerationoalreadyoCourt undergoneobyotheoaccusedoandotheounlikelihoodoofotrialoconcludingoinotheo nearofutureoasogroundsosufficientotooenlargeotheoaccusedoonobail,oinospiteoofo theofactothatotheoaccusedostandsochargedoofooffencesopunishableowitholifeo imprisonmentooroevenodeathopenalty.oInosuchocases,oinoouroopinion,otheomereo factothatotheoaccusedohasoundergoneocertainoperiodoofoincarcerationo(threeo yearsoinothisocase)obyoitselfowouldonotoentitleotheoaccusedotoobeingoenlargedo onobail,onorotheofactothatotheotrialoisonotolikelyotoobeoconcludedoinotheonearo futureoeitherobyoitselfoorocoupledowithotheoperiodoofoincarcerationowouldobeo sufficientoforoenlargingotheoappellantoonobailowhenotheogravityoofotheooffenceo allegedoisosevereoandothereoareoallegationsoofotamperingowithotheowitnesseso byotheoaccusedoduringotheoperiodoheowasoonobail."o o

9.o o Ato theo outset,o ito mayo beo observedo thato ato theo stageo ofo considerationo ofo regularo bail,o thiso Courto iso noto required,o noro wouldo ito beo appropriate,o too undertakeo ao meticulouso examinationo ofo theo legalityo ofo commercialotransactionsoorotoorecordodefinitiveofindingsoonotheomeritsoofotheo competingoclaims,owhichoisotoobeotestedoduringotrial.oNevertheless,otheoCourto cannotoremainoobliviousotootheobroaderofactualobackdropoemergingofromotheo recordowhileoassessingowhetherodiscretionooughtotoobeoexercisedoinofavouroofo theopetitioner(s).oo

9.1.o o Theo granto ofo bail,o thougho discretionary,o assumeso ao narrowero compasso whereo allegationso pertaino too organisedo diversiono ofo regulatedo pharmaceuticalo substanceso intoo illicito channelso undero theo guiseo ofo lawfulo businessooperations.oCourtsohaveoconsistentlyocautionedothatoentitiesooperatingo withino theo pharmaceuticalo sectoro cannoto beo permittedo too cloako unlawfulo

o o o o 16o o activitiesobehindotheofacadeoofolicencesoorocorporateostructures,oparticularlyo whereo theo allegationso discloseo large-scaleo commercialo dealingso capableo ofo underminingo theo statutoryo frameworko ofo theo NDPSo Act.o Ito iso ao settledo principleothatolegalityoofoformocannotodefeatoscrutinyoofosubstance;otheomereo existenceoofolicencesoorocorporateoentitiesodoesonot,obyoitself,odispeloaoprimao facieoinferenceoarisingofromosurroundingocircumstances.oo

9.2.o o Ino caseso involvingo allegedo diversiono througho layeredo businesso arrangementso oro intermediaryo entities,o theo Courto iso requiredo too adopto ao cautiousoapproach,oasocomplexooffencesopertainingotoonarcotics,ooftenoemployo structuredotransactionsooroshelloarrangementsotoodistanceoprincipaloactorsofromo theo physicalo recoveryo ofo contraband.o Theo submissiono thato theo petitioner(s)o wereo operatingo througho licensedo entitieso oro formalo commercialo channels,o therefore,ocannotobeoacceptedoatofaceovalueoatothisostage,oparticularlyowhenotheo magnitudeo ofo theo allegedo recoveryo indicateso ao coordinatedo supplyo chaino extendingobeyondoisolatedotransactions.oCommercialosophisticationocannotobeo permittedotoobecomeoaoshieldoagainstocriminaloaccountability.oo

10.o o Inotheopresentocase,otheopetitioner(s)owereoarrestedoono13.05.2025,o

25.05.2025,o 13.06.2025o ando 11.09.2025,o respectively,o whereinaftero investigationowasocarriedooutoandochallanowasopresentedoono05.08.2025.oOutoofo totalocitedo49oprosecutionowitnesses,ononeohasobeenoexaminedotillodate.oTheo trialoisounderway.oIndubitably,otheopetitioner(s)oareoinvolvedoinotheocomplainto ino questiono pertainingo too hugeo commercialo quantityo ofo contrabando aso pero NDPSoAct,o1985.oPrimaofacie,otheopetitioner(s)oareoaccusedoofohavingodealingso inonarcoticosubstancesowithotheofirm(s)owhichoexistoonlyoonopapersoandonoto

o o o o 17o o physically.o Fromo theo rivalo submissionso aso alsoo theo materialo broughto fortho beforeome,onoocauseoisomadeooutoinofavouroofotheopetitioner(s)otoomeetowithotheo rigorsoofoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct.oHence,okeepingoinoviewotheoentiretyoofo theofactualomilieuoofotheocaseoinohand;oespeciallyotheocontrabandoallegedotoobeo recoveredobeingocommercialoinonature;otheopetition(s)oinohandodeserveotoobeo dismissed.oo

11.oo o Orderedoaccordingly.oo

12.o o Nothingosaidohereinaboveoshallobeoconstruedoasoanoexpressionoofo opinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocase.oo

13.oo o Sinceotheomainocaseohasobeenodecided,opendingomiscellaneouso application,oifoany,oshalloalsoostandsodisposedooff.o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ooo o oooooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)ooo ooo oooo SUMEEToGOEL o o o o ooooooJUDGEoooo JUDGE Februaryo11,o2026oo mahavirooo o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo

o o