Deepak Thapa v. Union Territory, Chandigarh

1o o o 232o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoAToCHANDIGARHo o o DeepakoThapaoo ….Petitionero versuso o UnionoTerritory,oChandigarhoo ….Respondento o Dateoofodecision:oo o Januaryo19,o2026o DateoofoUploading:oo Januaryo20,o2026o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo o Present:-o Mr.oVivekoKathuria,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.ooPresent: o o o Ms.oNavnitoSharma,oAdvocateoforoo o o Ms.oSharmilaoSharma,oAdditionaloP.P.,oU.T.,oChandigarh.oo o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(ORAL)oo o o o PresentopetitionohasobeenofiledounderoSectiono483oofotheoBharatiyao NagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023o(foroshorto'BNSS')oforograntooforegularobailotoo theopetitioner,oinocaseobearingoFIRoNo.20odatedo08.03.2025,oregisteredoforotheo offencesopunishableounderoSectiono21oofotheoNarcoticoDrugsoandoPsychotropico SubstancesoAct,o1985o(foroshorto'NDPSoAct')o(Sectiono29oofotheoNDPSoActoando Sectionso25/o54/o59oofotheoArmsoAct,o1959oaddedolateroon),oatoPoliceoStationo Sectoro49,oChandigarh.oo

2.o o TheogravamenoofotheoFIRoinoquestionoisothatotheopetitioneroisoano accusedoofobeingoinvolvedoinoanoFIRopertainingotooNDPSoActoinvolvingoallegedo recoveryoofo50ogramsoofoHeroinofromoco-accused,onamely,oNarinderoKumar.oOno theobasisoofodisclosureoofosaidoco-accused,otheopetitionerohasobeenonominatedoino

o o 2o o thisocase,owhoofurther,ogotorecoveredoanoamountoofoRs.4.40olakhsoasodrugomoneyo apartofromooneocountryomadeopistolowithooneoliveocartridge.oFurther,oanotheroco-accused,onamely,oRajindero@oGoldyowasoarrested,oonotheobasisoofodisclosureoofo theopetitioner,ofromowhomooneocountryomadeopistoloalongowithooneomagazineowaso recovered.oAnotheroco-accused,onamely,oDharminderoSinghowasoarrested,owhoo gotorecoveredo140ogramso(Racemorphan)oapartofromoRs.50,000/-oasodrugomoney.o Thereafter,ootheroco-accusedowereoalsooarrested,oinothisocase.oo

3.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoiteratedothatotheopetitioneroiso inocustodyosinceo08.03.2025.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedothatotheopetitionerohaso beenofalselyoimplicatedointootheoFIRoinoquestion.oLearnedocounselohasosubmittedo that,o ato theo requesto ofo theo petitioner,o oneo ofo hiso friends,o namely,o Dhruvo Chaudharyo had,o aftero pawningo hiso goldo ornaments,o advancedo ano amounto ofo Rs.6,00,000/-o too theo petitionero foro theo purposeo ofo raisingo constructiono ofo hiso houseoasotheopetitionerowasoplanningogetomarriedoshortly.oLearnedocounselohaso furtheroarguedothatooutoofotheosaidoamountoofoRs.6,00,000/-,otheopetitionerohado kepto remainingo amounto ofo Rs.4,50,000/-o witho himo ato hiso residence.o Learnedo counselohasocontendedothatotheopetitionerohasobeenofalselyoimplicatedointootheoFIRo inoquestionobyoallegedlyoshowingorecoveryoofoRs.4,40,000/-oasodrugomoneyofromo hisopossession,owhereas,otheopetitionerohasonooconnectionowhatsoeverowithoanyo drugotransaction.oItohasobeenofurtherosubmittedothatotheoFIRoinoquestionoisoaosheero abuseoofotheoprocessoofolawoandoisoreflectiveoofotheoarbitraryoandounlawfuloactionso onotheopartoofotheopoliceoauthorities,owhooappearotoohaveoplantedoaofalseocaseo upono theo petitioner.o Accordingo too learnedo counsel,o theo separateo recoverieso attributedotootheopetitioneroandotheoco-accusedocannotobeoclubbedotogetherosooaso toobringotheocaseowithinotheoambitoofocommercialoquantity.oLearnedocounselohaso emphasizedothatotheoprosecutionocaseorestsosolelyoonosuspicionoandoconjecturesoaso

o o 3o o noo contrabando haso beeno recoveredo fromo theo consciouso possessiono ofo theo petitioner.oLearnedocounselohasofurtherosubmittedothatomandatoryoprovisionsoofo theo NDPSo Acto haveo noto beeno scrupulouslyo compliedo with,o and,o thus,o theo prosecutionocaseosuffersofromoinherentolegaloinfirmities.oLearnedocounselohasoalsoo contendedo thato theo trialo iso beingo undulyo delayedo ando thato theo responsibilityo thereofocannotobeofastenedouponotheopetitioner.oItohasofurtherobeenosubmittedothato theo petitionero haso sufferedo incarcerationo foro moreo thano 10o months.o Ono theo strengthoofoaforesaidosubmissions,otheograntooforegularobailoisoprayedofor.oo

4.o o LearnedoStateocounseloseeksotooplaceoonorecordocustodyocertificateo datedo18/19.01.2026oandostatusoreportobyowayoofoanoaffidavitodatedo17.01.2026,o inotheoCourtotoday,owhichoareotakenoonorecord.oPerocontra,oraisingosubmissionoino tandemowithotheoaforesaidostatusoreport,olearnedoStateocounselohasoopposedotheo presentopetitionobyoarguingothatotheoallegationsoraisedoagainstotheopetitioneroareo seriousoinonatureoand,othus,otheopetitionerodoesonotodeserveotheoconcessionoofotheo regularobail.oLearnedoStateocounselohasofurtherosubmittedothatopetitionoinohando doesonotosatisfyotheorigorsoofoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoActoandois,othus,oliableotoo beorejectedoonothisoscoreoalone.oAsoperotheosaidocustodyocertificate,otheopetitionero hasosufferedoincarcerationoforoabouto10omonthso&oisoalsooshownotoobeoinvolvedoino othero FIR(s)o whicho reflectso adverselyo ono hiso criminalo antecedents.o Ono theo strengthoofoaforesaidosubmissions,olearnedoStateocounselohasoprayedoforodismissalo ofotheopresentopetition.ooo

5.o o Iohaveoheardocounseloforotheorivalopartiesoandoperusedotheopaper-bookoasoalsootheorecordoproducedobeforeome.oo

6.o o Beforeo delvingo furthero intoo theo meritso ofo theo case,o ito wouldo beo appositeotooreferohereinotootheofollowingocase-lawogermaneotootheomatter(s)oino issue:o

o o 4o 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 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

o o 5o o 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 rigorousoimprisonment,oitocannotobeosaidothatotheoRespondentohaso beenoincarceratedoforoanounreasonablyolongotime."o o

ii)o Further,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoUnionoofo Indiao versuso Vigino K.o Varghese,o Specialo Leaveo Petitiono (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 ThisoCourtoinotheocaseoofoJaswinderoSinghoaliasoKalaoversuso Stateo ofo Punjab,o passedo ino CRM-M-33729-2025oStateo ofo Punjab, CRM 33729 2025o

o o 6o o (2025:PHHC:089161)o=o2025oSCCoOnLineoP&H4537;oafterorelyingo uponotheoratioodecidendioofotheojudgmentsoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeo CourtoinoUnionoofoIndiaovs.oThamisharasio&oOrs,o1995(4)oSCCo190,o Customs,oNewoDelhiovs.oAhmadalievaoNodira,o2004o(3)oSCCo549,o Uniono ofo Indiao vs.o Shrio Shivo Shankero Kesari,o 2007(4)o RCR(Criminal)o186,oSatpaloSinghovs.oStateoofoPunjab,o2018o(13)o SCCo 813,o Narcoticso Controlo Bureauo vs.o Mohito Aggarwal,o 2022o LiveLawo(SC)o613,oMohd.oMuslimo@oHussainovs.oStateo(NCToofo 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)o 540,o Ranjitsingo Brahmajeetsingo Sharmao vs.o Stateo ofo Maharashtrao &o Anr.o 2005(5)oSCCo294,oCentraloBureauoofoInvestigationovs.oVs.oVijayoSaio Reddy,o 2013(3)o RCRo (Criminal)o 252,o Municipalo Corporationo ofo Delhiovs.oM/soJaganoNathoAshokoKumaroandoanother,o1987(4)oSCCo 497,o Gujarato Watero Supplyo ando Sewerageo Boardo vs.o Uniqueo Erectorso (Gujarat)o (P)o Ltd.,o ando another,o 1987(1)o SCCo 532,o Collectoroandoothersovs.oP.oMangammaoandoothers,o2003(4)oSCCo 488,oCommissioneroofoIncome-tax,oDelhiovs.oS.oTejaoSingh,o1958o SCCoOnlineoSCo30,oManagementoofoAdvanceoInsuranceoCo.oLtd.o Vs.o Shrio Gurudasmalo ando otherso 1970(1)o SCCo 633,o Tinsukhiao ElectricoSupplyoCo.oLtd.oVs.oStateoofoAssam,o1989(3)oSCCo709oando CommissioneroofoIncomeoTaxovs.oHindustanoBulkoCarriers,o2003(3)o SCCo57;ohasoheld,othus:oo "14.o o Asoaosequiturotooabove-saidorumination,otheofollowingo postulatesoemerge:o

o o 7o o

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

o o 8o o

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

7.o o Theograntoofobailofallsowithinotheodiscretionaryodomainoofotheocourt;o however,osuchodiscretionomustobeoexercisedoinoaojudiciousoandoprincipledomanner,o ensuringoitoalignsowithoestablishedolegaloprecedentsoandotheointerestsoofojustice.o Whileoconsideringoaobailoapplication,otheoCourtomustoevaluateofactorsosuchoasotheo existenceoofoprimaofacieoevidenceoimplicatingotheoaccused,otheonatureoandogravityo ofotheoallegedooffence,oandotheoseverityoofotheolikelyosentenceouponoconviction.o TheoCourtomustoalsooassessotheolikelihoodoofotheoaccusedoabscondingooroevadingo theodueoprocessoofolaw,otheoprobabilityoofotheooffenceobeingorepeatedoandoanyo reasonableoapprehensionoofotheoaccusedotamperingowithoevidenceooroinfluencingo witnesses.o Additionally,o theo character,o antecedents,o financialo means,o societalo standingoandooveralloconductoofotheoaccusedoplayoaocrucialorole.oFurthermore,otheo Courtomustoweighotheopotentialodangeroofobailounderminingotheoadministrationoofo justiceoorothwartingoitsodueocourse.oAoprofitableoreferenceoinothisoregardoisomadeo tootheojudgmentopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtotitledoasoStateothroughoStateothrougho C.B.I.o vs.o Amaramanio Tripathi,o 2005o AIRo Supremeo Courto 3490,o relevanto whereoforeadsoasounder:o

o o 9o 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)oSCCoSarkarov.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 ThisoCourtoalsooinospecificotermsoheldothato:o "theoconditionolaidodownounderosectiono437(1)(i)oisosineoquaononoforo grantingobailoevenounderosectiono439oofotheoCode.oInotheoimpugnedoorderoito isonoticedothatotheoHighoCourtohasogivenotheoperiodoofoincarcerationoalreadyo undergoneobyotheoaccusedoandotheounlikelihoodoofotrialoconcludingoinotheo nearofutureoasogroundsosufficientotooenlargeotheoaccusedoonobail,oinospiteoofo theofactothatotheoaccusedostandsochargedoofooffencesopunishableowitholifeo imprisonmentooroevenodeathopenalty.oInosuchocases,oinoouroopinion,otheomereo factothatotheoaccusedohasoundergoneocertainoperiodoofoincarcerationo(threeo yearsoinothisocase)obyoitselfowouldonotoentitleotheoaccusedotoobeingoenlargedo onobail,onorotheofactothatotheotrialoisonotolikelyotoobeoconcludedoinotheonearo futureoeitherobyoitselfoorocoupledowithotheoperiodoofoincarcerationowouldobeo sufficientoforoenlargingotheoappellantoonobailowhenotheogravityoofotheooffenceo allegedoisosevereoandothereoareoallegationsoofotamperingowithotheowitnesseso byotheoaccusedoduringotheoperiodoheowasoonobail."o o

o o 10o o InoPanchananoMishraov.oDigambaroMishra,o2005(1)oApexo Criminalo319o:o2005(1)oRCR(Criminal)o712o(SC)o:o2005(3)oSCCo 143,othisoCourtoobservedo:oo o "Theoobjectounderlyingotheocancellationoofobailoisotooprotectotheofairo trialoandosecureojusticeobeingodoneotootheosocietyobyopreventingotheoaccusedo whooisosetoatolibertyobyotheobailoorderofromotamperingowithotheoevidenceoino theoheinousocrime.....oItohardlyorequiresotoobeostatedothatoonceoaopersonoiso releasedoonobailoinoseriousocriminalocasesowhereotheopunishmentoisoquiteo stringentoandodeterrent,otheoaccusedoinoorderotoogetoawayofromotheoclutcheso ofotheosameoindulgeoinovariousoactivitiesolikeotamperingowithotheoprosecutiono witnesses,othreateningotheofamilyomembersoofotheodeceasedovictimoandoalsoo createoproblemsoofolawoandoorderosituation."o o

8.o o Ato theo outset,o ito iso too beo notedo thato ao commercialo quantityo ofo Racemorphano haso beeno recoveredo ino theo presento case.o Thougho noo narcotico substanceohasobeenorecoveredofromotheopetitioner,otheoallegationsoagainstohimo pertainotooallegedorecoveryoofodrugomoneyotootheotuneoofo₹4,40,000/-,oandowheno viewedo ino conjunctiono witho theo recoveryo ofo commercialo quantityo ofo Racemorphano fromo co-accused,o primao facieo indicateso theo involvemento ofo theo petitioneroinotheoallegedodrugotraffickingonetwork.oHowever,otheoquestionoasotoo whethero theo recoverieso cano beo treatedo separatelyo oro areo interconnected,o iso ao matter,owhichocanobeoconclusivelyodeterminedoonlyoafteroevidenceoisoledoduringo theocourseoofotrial.oAtotheostageoofoconsiderationooforegularobail,otheoCourtoisonoto expectedo too undertakeo ao detailedo oro rovingo inquiryo intoo theo evidence.o Furthermore,otheorecoveryoofonarcoticosubstanceofromotheoco-accusedocannotobeo viewedoinoisolation.oAtothisostage,oaoprimaofacieosatisfactionoisosufficientoforotheo purposeoofoconsiderationoforopleaooforegularobail.oFurthermore,otheoexplanationo furnishedobyotheopetitioneroregardingotheosourceoofotheorecoveredomoneyoinvolveso disputedo questionso ofo fact,o whicho cannoto beo conclusivelyo adjudicatedo ato thiso stage.o Theo materialo collectedo byo theo investigatingo agency,o includingo theo coordinatedorecoveries,oprimaofacieosuggestsothatotheopetitionerowasoinvolvedoino theopresentocase.oWhetherotheorecoveredoamountoisoultimatelyoprovedotoobeodrugo

o o 11o o moneyoisoaomatterotoobeoratiocinatedouponoduringotheocourseoofotrial.oInoviewoofo theostatutoryoembargoounderoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct,othisoCourtoisorequiredo toorecordoaosatisfactionothatothereoareoreasonableogroundsoforobelievingothatotheo petitioneroisonotoguiltyoofotheoallegedooffenceoandothatoheoisonotolikelyotoocommito anyooffenceowhileoonobail.oFromotheomaterialoavailableoonorecord,othisoCourtoiso unableotoorecordosuchosatisfaction.oo

9.o o InotheoconsideredoopinionoofothisoCourt,otheoallegationsoasoalsootheo mannerooforecovery,odisentitleotheopetitionerotootheodiscretionaryoreliefooforegularo bail.oFurthermore,onooaccentuatingooroexceptionalocircumstancesohaveobeenomadeo outowhichomayoprimaofacieoconstituteoaocompellingogroundoforograntooforegularo bailotootheopetitioner,oespeciallyoinolightoofotheogravityoofotheoallegationsoandotheo materialoplacedoonorecord.oTheoCourtocannotoacceptotheopleaoofotheopetitioner'so falseoimplicationomerelyobasedoonobaldoassertionsounsupportedobyoanyocogento material.o o Theo argumento ofo theo learnedo counselo thato onlyo moneyo haso beeno recoveredofromotheopetitionerocannotobeoacceptedoatothisostageoasotheosurroundingo circumstancesoofotheoincidentoraiseodoubtsothatocanoonlyobeoclarifiedoduringotheo courseoofotrial.oo

10.o o Theo petitionero waso arrestedo ono 08.03.2025o whereinaftero investigationowasocarriedooutoandochallanowasopresentedoono03.09.2025.oCharges,o ino thiso case,o wereo framedo ono 02.12.2025.o Outo ofo totalo citedo 28o prosecutiono witnesses,ononeohasobeenoexaminedotillodate.oTheotrialoisounderway.oIndubitably,o theo petitionero iso involvedo ino theo FIRo ino questiono pertainingo too commercialo quantityoofo140ogramsoofoRacemorphanoasoperoNDPSoAct,o1985.oFromotheorivalo submissionsoasoalsootheomaterialobroughtoforthobeforeome,onoocauseoisomadeooutoino favouroofotheopetitionerotoomeetowithotheorigorsoofoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct.o Hence,okeepingoinoviewotheoentiretyoofotheofactualomilieuoofotheocaseoinohand;o

o o 12o o especiallyo theo contrabando allegedo too beo recoveredo beingo 140o gramso ofo Racemorphano fromo theo co-accusedo ando drugo moneyo ofo ₹4,40,000/-o fromo theo petitioner,oandohisoantecedents,owhichoreflecto03ootheroFIR(s)oagainstohim;otheo petitionoinohandodeservesotoobeodismissed.oo

11.o o Inoviewoofotheoprevenientoratiocination,oitoisoordainedothus:o

(i)o o Theopresentopetitionoisodevoidoofomeritoandoisoherebyodismissed.oo

(ii)oo o Anyoobservationsomadeoand/orosubmissionsonotedohereinaboveoshallo notohaveoanyoeffectoonomeritsoofotheocaseoandotheoinvestigatingoagencyoasoalsootheo trialo Courto shallo proceedo further,o ino accordanceo witho law,o withouto beingo influencedowithothisoorder.oo

(iii)o o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedoof.o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ooo o oooooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o ooooooJUDGEo Januaryo19,o2026ooJanuaryo19,o2026 mahavirooo o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo

o o