[Cites 7, Cited by 0]
Punjab-Haryana High Court
Gurlal Singh vs State Of Punjab on 12 January, 2026
Prayer in the present petition filed under Section 483 of
BNSS is for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.10 dated
24.04.2023, registered under Sections 21, 25 and 29 NDPS Act, 1985 at
Police Station State Special Operation Cell Amrtisar (District Int
Intelligence
Wing) (CID),
(CID) District Amritsar.
2. Learned counsel contends that the petitioner has been in
custody for 2 years, 8 months and 15 days. He alleges false implication.
PARVEEN KUMAR
2026.01.12 18:33
I attest to the accuracy and
integrity of this
order/judgment.
Reliance is placed on the judgment
passed by Hon'ble The Supreme Court titled as Maulana Mohd. Amir
Rashadi vs. State of U.P. and others, 2012(2) SCC 382.
3. The custody certificate dated 11.01.2026, filed by the learned
State counsel is taken on record. As per the same, the petitioner is behind
bars for 2 years, 8 months and 15 days.
4. Learned State counsel opposes the bail on the ground that the
commercial quantity of contraband was recovered from the petitioner and
the co-accused, who were apprehended at the spot. However, he is unable
to controvert the submissions with regard to stage of the case; the
petitioner being on bail in other case and the co-accused having been
released on bail.
5. Heard.
6. Hon'ble The Supreme Court in the case of Maulana Mohd.
Amir Rashadi (Supra)had held that, "As observed by the High Court,
merely on the basis of criminal antecedents, the claim of the second
respondent cannot be rejected. In other words, it is the duty of the Court to
find out the role of the accused in the case in which he has been charged
and other circumstances such as possibility of fleeing away from the
jurisdiction of the Court, etc."
7. Hon'ble The Supreme Court in Shariful Islam @ Sarif
versus The State of West Bengal SLP (Crl.) No.4173/2022, decided on
04.08.2022, granted bail to the petitioner in a case of recovery of
commercial quantity of contraband, considering incarceration for over 1
year and 6 months and there being no likelihood of completion of trial in
the near future, while the Division Bench of this Court in Bhupender
Singh vs. Narcotic Control Bureau (2022) 2 RCR (Crl.) 706, observed
with regard to achieving balance between right to speedy trial guaranteed
under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and rigors of Section 37 of
NDPS Act.
8. This Court in the case of Balraj Singh vs. State of Punjab
CRM-M-57386-2022, on 14.12.2022 has followed the dictum laid down
by Hon'ble The Supreme Court and granted the bail to the petitioner
therein after he had undergone total custody of 1 year and 6 months and in
Munasi Masih vs. State of Punjab, CRM-M-31504-2022, on 06.2.2023,
wherein commercial quantity of contraband had been recovered but only 2
out of 13 PWs had been examined, allowed bail.
9. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, in
particular that the petitioner is in custody for the last 2 years, 8 months
and 15 days; on bail in other case; co-accused is on bail; out of 17 PWs,
14 stand examined; the trial is likely to take a considerable time, further
incarceration of the petitioner would be violative of his right enshrined
under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the rigors of Section 37
of the NDPS Act can be diluted bearing in mind the right to a speedy trial,
the present petition is allowed.
10. The petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail,
subject to furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of trial
Court/Duty Magistrate concerned, if not required in any other case and
shall abide by the following conditions:-
(i) The petitioner will not tamper with the evidence
during the trial.
(ii) The petitioner will not pressurize/ intimidate the
prosecution witnesses.
(iii) The petitioner will appear before the trial Court
on each and every date fixed, unless is exempted
by a specific order of Court.
(iv) The petitioner shall not commit an offence
similar to the offence of which, he is an accused,
or for commission of which he is suspected of.
(v) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly
coerce, induce, threaten or promise to any
person acquainted with the facts of the case so
as to dissuade him/ her from disclosing such
facts to the Court or to any police officer or
tamper with the evidence in any manner.
(vi) The petitioner shall not in any manner misuse
his liberty.
(vii) The petitioner shall furnish his address and
mobile number by way of an affidavit to the trial
Court and not change the same till conclusion of
trial and if for any reasons, he seeks to change
either of the aforesaid, it shall be done only with
prior information to the learned trial Court.
(viii) The petitioner shall not leave the country
without prior permission of the trial Court.
(ix) The trial Court/Duty Magistrate may impose
any other condition, as deemed appropriate
while releasing the petitioner.
11. It is made abundantly clear that in case there is any breach of
the aforesaid conditions, the State shall be at liberty to seek cancellation
of bail as granted to the petitioner by this order.
12. In view of the above, it is clarified that the observations
made herein above are limited for the purpose of present proceedings and
would not be construed as any opinion on the merits of the case and the
trial would proceed independently of the aforesaid observations.
