Rajasthan High Court - Jodhpur

Gopal vs State Of Rajasthan on 25 April, 2023

Bench: Kuldeep Mathur

[2023/RJJD/011766]

      HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT
                       JODHPUR
 S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous III Bail Application No. 15934/2022

Kishore Kumar S/o Shri Bhikha Ram, Aged About 30 Years, R/o
Bajju Ps Bajju Dist. Bikaner (Lodged In Dist. Jail Nagaur)
                                                                   ----Petitioner
                                    Versus
State Of Rajasthan, Through Pp
                                                                 ----Respondent
                              Connected With
  S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous II Bail Application No. 16343/2022
Gopal S/o Bhanwarlal, Aged About 29 Years, R/o Vill. Athiyasaan
Ps Kotwali Dist. Nagaur (Presently Lodged At Dist. Jail Nagaur)
                                                                   ----Petitioner
                                    Versus
State Of Rajasthan, Through PP
                                                                 ----Respondent


For Petitioner(s)         :     Mr.Bhagirath R. Bishnoi,
                                Mr.Vijay Bishnoi.
For Respondent(s)         :     Mr.Mahipal Bishnoi, P.P.



            HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP MATHUR

                                    ORDER

25/04/2023

These applications for bail under Section 439 Cr.P.C. have

been filed by the petitioners who have been arrested in connection

with F.I.R. No.297/2021, registered at Police Station Kotwali,

District Nagaur for the offences under Sections 8/21 and 8/29

NDPS Act and 3/25 Arms Act.

The earlier applications for bail were dismissed vide orders

dated 21.4.2022 (Second CRLMB No.3258/2022 Kishore Vs. State)

and 10.09.2021 (CRLMB No.12421/2021 Gopal Vs. State).

[2023/RJJD/011766] (2 of 10) [CRLMB-15934/2022]

As per prosecution story, SHO Brijendra Singh C.I., PS

Kotwali, Nagaur received an information from reliable sources that

the present accused- Gopal is going to sell psychotropic/narcotic

substance to one of his customer in vehicle (Scorpio) bearing no.

RJ-23-UB-3022. On receiving aforesaid information, by following

the procedure provided under Section 42(1) and (2) of NDPS Act,

SHO, PS Kotwali, Nagaur with his team at about 11:50 P.M.

reached to the dhani (group of houses in a village) of the

petitioners, where they saw two persons standing. Upon seeing

the police team, the accused tried to flee in their white Scorpio.

The police team, however, succeeded in nabbing both the persons,

who on being interrogated disclosed their names as Gopal and

Kishore petitioners herein. As per prosecution case, separate

notices under Section 50 of the NDPS Act were served upon both

the accused persons. After following the due process, the Scorpio

was searched, wherefrom one plastic bag containing white

powdery like substance was found which was disclosed to be

'smack'. During personal search of the present petitioners, a

loaded pistol along with four live rounds was found from the

pyjama worn by petitioner Gopal. That apart, from the left pocket

of his pyjama, two mobile phones and one white plastic bag

containing smack were also recovered. The psychotropic

substance (smack) weighing 10-10 gms. was also recovered from

the physical possession of each of the petitioners Kishore and

Gopal, whereas 285 gms. smack was recovered from the vehicle

(Scorpio). As per the prosecution, the total smack recovered from

Scorpio as well as physical possession of the petitioners was 305

gms.

[2023/RJJD/011766] (3 of 10) [CRLMB-15934/2022]

The investigating agency after making thorough investigation

filed charge-sheet against both the petitioners before competent

criminal court for the offences under Sections 8/21, 8/25 and 8/29

of the NDPS Act and Section 5/25 of the Arms Act.

Learned counsel for the petitioners drawing attention

towards the challan papers, recovery memo and statement of

Seizure Officer Brijendra Singh (P.W.4), submitted that the entire

procedure of search and seizure conducted by the Seizure Officer

is in gross violation of Sections 42, 50, 52 and 55 of the NDPS Act.

To buttress this submission, reliance was placed upon the cross-

examination of the Seizure Officer, Brijendra Singh (P.W.4), whose

testimony is reproduced hereinbelow for ready reference:-

" ;g lgh gS fd vkfVZdy 01 o 02 o 03 o 04 o 05 bu ikapksa gh issdsV ij Fkkus ykus ds ckn eky[kkuk esa tek djokus ls iwoZ /kkjk 55 ,u Mh ih ,l ,DV ds rgr vkfVZdy iqu% fjlhy djus dh lhy vafdr ugha gS o uk gh phV psik ij fjlhy dh uewuk lhy L;kgh vafdr gSA ;g lgh gS fd vkfVZdy 01] 02] 03] 04 o 5 ij fjlhy dh phV psik Hkh ugha fpidkbZ gqbZ gSA ;g lgh gS fd vkfVZdy 01 yxk;r 05 dks Fkkus esa tek djokus ls iwoZ èkkjk 55 ,u Mh ih ,l ,DV dh dk;Zokgh ds vuqlkj eky[kkuk esa tek ugha djok;kA ;g dguk lgh gS fd vkfVZdy 07 ds eSdsfute dks pSd djus ds fy, Qk;j dj ds ekSds ij pSd ugha fd;kA ;g dguk lgh gS fd ekSds ij lhy 'kqnk vkfVZdy ij fpidk;h gqbZ phV psik o Fkkuk esa ykdj iqu% fjlhy ds nkSjku rS;kj dh xbZ phV psik dh f}rh; çfr i=koyh esa ugha gSA ;g lgh gS fd eqyfteku dks èkkjk 50 ,u Mh ih ,l ,DV ds uksfVl esa 50¼5½ ds rgr eSus lpZ dh dk;Zokgh dh FkhA ;g dguk lgh gS fd /kkjk 50 ¼05½ ,u Mh ih ,l ,DV ds rgr esjs }kjk fd;s x;s lpZ es èkkjk 50 ¼6½ ,u Mh ih ,l ,DV ds rgr uksfVl dh çfr 72 ?kaVs Hkhrj mPp vfèkdkjh dks Hkstuk vkKkid çkoèkku gSA ;g dguk lgh gS fd xokg us i=koyh ns[kdj crk;k dh èkkjk 50 ,u Mh ih ,l ,DV dk uksfVl mPp vfèkdkfj;ksa dks ugha Hkstk FkkA ;g lgh gS fd vfHk;qäx.k dks fn;s x;s èkkjk 50 ,u Mh ih ,l ,DV ds uksfVl ds FkMZ fodYi dh jktif=r vfèkdkjh ;k eftLVsV ds le{k dksbZ ,slk O;fä yk;k tkrk gS] ryk'kh ds fy, mfpr vkèkkj ugha ikrk rks ,sls O;fä dks mUeksfpr dj ldrk gSA ;g lgh gS fd /kkjk 42 ,u Mh ih ,DV ds rgr ryk'kh ls iwoZ QnZ [kkuk ryk'kh ugh cuk;hA ;g lgh gS fd ?kVuk lw;kZLr ds i'pkr o lw;kZsn; ds chp dh FkhA ;g dguk xyr gS fd çn'kZ ih 01 ds vUnj bZ ls ,Q fgLls esa le; 02 ,å,eå xyr fy[kk gksA ;g dguk xyr gS fd çn'kZ ih 01 ds vks ls ih fgLls esa esjs gLrk{kj 02 ,å,eå ugh gq;s gksA ;g dguk xyr gS fd çn'kZ ih 01 ds , ls ch] lh ls Mh] th ls ,p o vkbZ ls ts] ds ls ,y o ,e ls ,u o rhu txg ,Dl LFkku ij uewuk lhy L;kgh nks ,å,e0 ij ugha dh xbZ gksA vt[kqn dgk dh QnZ dh lEiw.kZ dk;Zokgh 02 ,0,e0 ij iqjh gks pwfd FkhA Fkkuk ij igqapus ij fdruk le; yxk vkt ;kn ugha gSaA Fkkus ls ?kVukLFky 05 fdyksehVj nwj gSA ;g lgh gS fd çn'kZ ih 03 o 04 esa

[2023/RJJD/011766] (4 of 10) [CRLMB-15934/2022]

xkM+h dh ryk'kh dk dksbZ vadu ugha gSA ;g lgh gS fd çn'kZ ih 19 , eky[kkuk jftLVj esa uewuk lhy L;kgh o iqu% fjlhy L;kgh dk i`"Bkadu ugha gSA ;g lgh gS fd çdj.k esa tIr vkfVZdy dks eky[kkuk esa tek ds ckn tkap vfèkdkjh }kjk nqckjk osjhfQds'ku fd;k gks ,sl bUækt ugh gSA uksV%& yap le; gksus ls bl Lrj ij xokg ds c;ku fjtoZ j[ks x;sA uksV%& yap le; ckn xokg ds fjtoZ c;ku iqu% mlh Lrj ij 'kq: fd, x,A ;g lgh gS fd vfHk;qäx.k dks fn;s x;s èkkjk 50 ,u Mh ih ,l ,DV ds uksfVl ds FkMZ fodYi dh jktif=r vfèkdkjh ;k eftLVªsV ds le{k dksbZ ,slk O;fä yk;k tkrk gS] ryk'kh ds fy, mfpr vkèkkj ugha ikrk rks ,sls O;fä dks mUeksfpr dj ldrk gS] mä fodYi vfHk;qä dks ugha fn;kA ;g lgh gS fd çn'kZ ih 3 o 4 esa ^^vfèkdkj** 'kCn dk ç;ksx djrs gq, eqyftea dks muds vfèkdkjksa ls voxr ugha djok;k x;kA ;g dguk xyr gS fd èkkjk 52 ukjdksfVDl dkaVksy C;wjks ds LFkkbZ vkns'k la[;k [email protected] ds ckjs esa tkudkjh ugha gksA ;g dguk xyr gS fd eky[kkuk bapktZ dks izdj.k ds tCr vkfVZdy lhy"kqnk voLFkk esa tek djokus dh dksbZ QdZ rS;kj dj eky[kkuk bapktZ ds gLrk{kj djok, gksA ;g dguk Hkh xyr gS fd i=koyh ns[kdj eSa ugha crk ldrkA ;g lgh gS fd çn'kZ ih 10 ij eky[kkuk bapktZ ds gLrk{kj ugh gSA ;g dguk xyr gS fd rRle; eky[kkuk bapktZ dks eSa ugha tkurk gksA vt[kqn dgk eky[kkuk bapktZ lksguyky dks eSa ugha tkurk gksA ç'u% & i=koyh esa gLrxr çdj.k esa tCr vkfVZdy 'khYM'kqn voLFkk esa ,plh lksguyky eky[kkuk çHkkjh dksrokyh dks lqiqnZ fd;k gks ,slh dksbZ QnZ i=koyh ij ekStwn ugha gSA mÙkj& ;g dguk xyr gSA ç'u%& ekSds ij QnZtCrh dk;Zokgh ds i'pkr vki }kjk dkSu dkSu lh QnkZr rS;kj dh xbZ\ mÙkj ;g dguk xyr gS fd mä QnkZr ds vykok vU; QnkZr i=koyh ij miyCèk ij gSA ;g dguk xyr gS fd Q+nZ tCrh çn'kZ ih 1 esa rS;kj gksus ds i'pkr xyr rjhds ls QnZ tCrh ds ckn dh QnksZa dk vadu fd;k gSA ;g lgh gS fd eSa jktif=r vfèkdkjh ugha gwaA ;g dguk lgh gS fd fQj Hkh ryk'kh esjs }kjk gh yh xbZA ;g lgh gS fd çn'kZ ih 3 o 4 èkkjk 50 ,uMhih,l uksfVl esa esjs }kjk ryk'kh fy, tkus ckcr fodYi ugha fn;k FkkA ;g ckr lgh gS fd cjkenxh xkMh o 'kjhj nksuksa ls dh FkhA ;g dguk lgh gS fd igys eqyftekuksa ds dCts ls cjkenxh gqbZ Fkh mlds ckn xkM+h ls cjkenxh gqbZ FkhA ;g lgh gS fd xkM+h ls cjkenxh lacaèk esa èkkjk 50 ,uMhih,l dk vyx ls uksfVl ugha fn;k x;kA ;g dguk xyr gS fd çn'kZ ih 3 o 4 ds Hkkx th ls ,p ,d gh O;fä dh dyeh gksA ;g lgh gS fd çn'kZ ih 15 esa ;g mYys[k ugha gS fd eqyfte fd'kksj dqekj ds dCts ,oa ikl esa dksbZ eknd inkFkZ gksA ;g ckr lgh gS fd eq[kchj dh lwpuk çn'kZ ih 15 èkkjk 42 ¼2½ esa xkM+h pykbZeku fLFkfr esa gks] ifjogu fLFkfr esa gks] çogu fLFkfr esa gks dk vadu ugha gSA ;g ckr lgh gS fd cjkenxh jkf= ds le; dh FkhA ;g lgh gS fd çn'kZ ih 15 dk bZ ls ,Q fgLlk isu ls fy[kk gqvk gSA eq>s bl ckr dh tkudkjh ugha fd Ld‚fiZ;ksa okgu fdlh dk futh okgu gksA ;g lgh gS fd gLrxr çdj.k esa dk;Zokgh ls iwoZ eSaus fdlh l{ke vfèkdkjh ls lpZ okjaV ugha çkIr fd;k vt[kqn dgk fd le; vHkko o eqyftekuksa dh Qjkjh o eky dh [kqnZ cqnZ djus dk iwjk iwjk vans'kk gksus ds dkj.k okjaV çkIr ugha fd;kA ;g dguk xyr gS fd eSaus ,slh dksbZ QnZ vyx ls rS;kj ugha fd okjaV çkIr ugha djus ds dkj.kksa dh QnZ rS;kj ugha dhA xokg us i=koyh dk voyksdu dj dgk vyx ls QnZ ugha gSA ysfdu ,QvkbZvkj dh QtCrh esa vafdr gSA ;g lgh gS fd ,slh dksbZ QnZ eSaus rS;kj djds mPp vfèkdkjh dks ugha HksthA vt[kqn dgk fd jkstukeps esa vafdr gSA ;g lgh gS fd vly jkstukepk esjs ikl ugha gSA ;g dguk xyr gS fd

[2023/RJJD/011766] (5 of 10) [CRLMB-15934/2022]

eSaus /kkjk 42 ¼1½ ,uMhih,l ,DV ds çksohtks dh ikyuk ugha dh gSA ;g lgh gS fd tks cjkenxh eSaus Ld‚fi;ksa xkM+h ls crk;h x;h gS fdlus xkMh esa D;ksa j[kh o dc j[kh bl ckcr eq>s O;fäxr dksbZ tkudkjh ugha gS o u gh ,slh lk{; i=koyh ij gSA ;g lgh gS fd xkM+h dh pkch vyx ls tCr ugha dhA ;g ckr lgh gS fd eqyftekuksa dks xkMh esa cSBs gq, dks ncksp fy;k FkkA ;g dguk lgh gS fd xkMh ewfoax fLFkfr esa ugha FkhA vkt eq> ;kn ugha fd xkM+h fdl fn'kk esa ewfoax gks jgh FkhA xkM+h ?kj ls fudydj djhc yxHkx 100 ehVj nwjh ij Fkh o fn'kk dk eq>s vkt ;kn ughaA ;g lgh gS fd çn'kZ ih 17 esa xkMh ?kj ls 100 ehVj nwj ewfoax fLFkfr esa gks eSaus tkap vkèksdkjh dks ugha crk;kA nwjh fdrus ehVj dh gks eSaus ugha crk;kA xkM+h pyus dh fLFkfr esa ugha Fkh] ekSds ij gh [kMh FkhA ;g lgh gS fd eqyfteku ds isaV o 'kVZ dks tCr ugha fd;k gksA ;g lgh gS fd eqyfteku ds isaV o 'kVZ fdl jax ds igus gq, Fks vkt eSa ugha crk ldrkA ;g lgh gS fd eqyft;ku xksikyjke o fd"kksj dqekj ds nksuksa dh tsc ls cjkcj 10&10 xzke dh cjkenxh crkbZ gSA ;g dguk xyr gS fd cjkenxh cukoVh crk;hgSA ;g dguk xyr gS fd eqyfteku dks tks fyf[kr èkkjk 50 dk uksfVl fn;k x;k Fkk mä uksfVl eqyfteku dh tsc ls cjken ugha gqvk gksA ;g dguk lgh gS fd eqyfteku ls tks èkkjk 50 dk uksfVl izkIr gqvk oks QksYM voLFkk esa Fkk] ftlesa flykoVs iM+h gqbZ FkhaA ;g lgh gS fd flykoVs iMk gqvk uksfVl i=koyh esa i=koyh esa ugha gSA ;g dguk xyr gS fd ,slk uksfVl eqyfteku dk fn;k gh ugha gksA ;g dguk xyr gS fd eqyftekuksa ls tks vkfVZdy cjkenxh gqbZ oks LeSd ugha gksA ,Q,l,y fjiksVZ esa cjkenx vkfVZdy gsjksbZu vkbZ gks bl lacaèk esa eSa ugha crk ldrkA vt[kqn dgk fd fjiksVZ ,Q,l,y eSaus ugha ns[khA ;g ckr lgh gS fd gsjksbZu o LeSd nksuksa vyx&vyx eknd inkFkZ gSA ;g ckr lgh gS fd eqyfte xksiky dh tsc ls xkMh Ld‚fiZ;ks dh pkch cjken ugha gqbZ FkhA ;g ckr lgh gS fd Ld‚fiZ;ksa xkMh eqyfte fd'kksj dqekj dh ugha gSA ;g ckr lgh gS fd tCr'kqnk xkMh u rks fd'kksj dqekj ds dCts dh Fkh o u gh Lo;a xkfyd Fkk o u gh vkj lh gksYMj FkkA vt[kqn dgk fd og Lo;a xkM+h ds vanj cSBk FkkA ;g ckr lgh gS fd i=koyh ij ,slk dksbZ nLrkost ugha gS ftlls ;g çekf.kr gks ;g xkMh fd'kksj dqekj dh gksA ;g dguk lgh gS fd bl çdj.k esa tCr eky eky[kkuk esa tek djokus ls iwoZ U;kf;d eftLVªsVs dh mifLFkfr esa dksbZ QksVksxzkQh o fofM;ksxzkQh ugha djokbZ Fkh vkSj uk gh tCr vkfVZdy uewuk lSEiy daVksy lSEiy ,oa eqík eky dh QksVksxzkQh eftLVªsV egksn; ds lkeus djokbZA ;g dguk xyr gS fd dsUæh; ljdkj ds LVsfMax v‚MZj [email protected] fnukad 13-06- 1989 dh ikyuk ugha dh gksA eq>s bl LVsfMax v‚MZj dh tkudkjh gSA ;g ckr lgh gS fd vkfVZdy 4]5]6 tks U;k;ky; esa is'k gq, gS mu iSdsV ij esjh futh lhy dh fpiM+h ugha FkhA ;g dguk xyr gS fd eqyfteku dks >wBk Qalk;k gksA ;g lgh gS fd eky[kkuk jftLVj esa esjs dksbZ gLrk{kj ugha gS o uk gh uewuk L;kgh lhy dk vadu gS o uk gh eky[kkuk bapktZ dkA ;g ckr lgh gS fd uewuk lhy QnZ eky[kkuk esa tek ugha djokbZA ""

Learned counsel placed reliance on following

orders/judgments of the co-ordinate Benches of this Court

granting bail to the accused stating that these orders have been

passed in similar set of facts:-

1. Poonam vs. State of Rajasthan (CRLMB No.17215/2021)

2. Madan Karir vs. State of Rajasthan (CRLMB No.5628/2022)

3. Jitendra Kumar vs. State of Rajasthan (CRLMB No.17383/2021)

[2023/RJJD/011766] (6 of 10) [CRLMB-15934/2022]

4. Sahil Kumar vs. State of Rajasthan (CRLMB No.3938/2021)

Learned counsel also placed reliance on the judgments

rendered by this Court and Hon'ble the Supreme Court in the

cases of Parmanand and Anr. vs. State of Rajasthan reported

in 2017 (1) R.Cr.D. 1 (Raj.), State of Rajasthan vs.

Parmanand & Anr. reported in 2014 0 AIR (SCW) 1578 and

Sanjeev & Anr. vs. State of Himachal Pradesh (Criminal

Appeal No.870/2016).

Learned counsel for the petitioner (Kishore) submitted that

he was present at the place of the incident by chance without

having any prior knowledge about the contraband and he has

been falsely roped in the present case. To substantiate the said

argument, learned counsel submitted that the secret/reliable

information was received by the Police only in connection with

petitioner Gopal. Even during investigation, the petitioner has not

been found to be connected with the alleged crime.

Learned counsel thus implored the Court to accept the bail

applications.

Learned Public Prosecutor has opposed the bail application.

Learned Public Prosecutor submitted that huge psychotropic

substance (smack) was recovered not only from the offending

vehicle i.e. Scorpio but also 10 gms. smack from the physical

possession of each of the present petitioners apart from recovery

of a pistol and five live rounds from the physical possession of the

petitioner Gopal. Lastly, it was submitted that the petitioners are

hardened criminals as they are already facing trial in four other

cases for the offences punishable under Indian Penal Code.

Heard.

[2023/RJJD/011766] (7 of 10) [CRLMB-15934/2022]

The question before this Court is as to whether at the stage

of bail, it would be prudent for this Court to deal with the alleged

violations of various provisions of Sections of NDPS Act,

particularly when the trial is going on and evidence in the form of

various prosecution witnesses and defence witnesses are yet to be

recorded.

It is evident from the charge sheet that the S.H.O. P.S.

Kotwali, Nagaur on 29.07.2021, received an information from

reliable source at about 11P.M. regarding commission of offence

punishable under NDPS Act. The said information was immediately

entered into roznamcha and an information in this regard was also

forwarded to the superior officers in a closed envelope through

special messenger Constable Om Prakash. It is pertinent to note

here that the SHO himself conducted the search, arrested the

accused and seized the contraband. He was thus following the

mandate of Section 41 of the NDPS Act which deals with the

powers of the police officials and therefore, in the opinion of this

Court, prima-facie, the actions of the S.H.O. in the present case

were not in violation of provisions of Section 42 of the NDPS Act

and merely because the information was not forwarded by him to

his superior officers within 72 hours after the search, registration

of case against the petitioners and conducting investigation

pursuant thereto, cannot be said to be held to be illegal. The

Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Abdul Rashid Ibrahim

Mansuri Vs. State of Gujarat reported in (2000) 2 SCC 513

observed that the procedure mandated in Section 42(1) and 42(2)

does not require literal compliance. In view of aforesaid

[2023/RJJD/011766] (8 of 10) [CRLMB-15934/2022]

discussion, the question with regard to violation of Section 42 of

the NDPS Act is one that should be raised during trial.

The Constitution Bench of Apex Court in the case of

Vijaysinh Chandubha Jadeja vs. State of Gujarat, reported in

(2011) 1 SCC 609, held that the question whether the

requirement of Section 50 of NDPS Act and the procedure

prescribed therein had been followed or not, is a matter of trial.

The judgments cited by the learned counsel are of no help to

the petitioners as in all these judgments, trial was already

complete, whereas in the instant case, the petitioners are facing

trial.

In the present case, from the perusal of challan and recovery

memo, it is apparent that the petitioner while responding to the

notice given under Section 50(1) of the NDPS Act dated 30.7.2021

at 12.40 PM, gave his consent for being searched by the S.H.O.

P.S. Kotwali i.e. Seizure Officer (P.W.4). Thus, prima-facie, the

compliance of Section 50 of the NDPS Act had been made. Further,

the trial has already commenced, therefore, no final finding is

required to be given in this regard.

As far as argument with regard to violation of Section 52 of

the NDPS Act is concerned, suffice it to note that present

petitioners were duly informed about the grounds of their arrest

and therefore, it cannot be said that their arrest in connection with

offences under various sections of NDPS Act was illegal.

So far as the argument advanced by learned counsel

regarding violation of the provisions of Section 55 of NDPS Act is

concerned, Hon'ble the Supreme Court in the case of State of

Punjab vs. Leema reported in 2009 (8) SCALE 564 (SC) has

[2023/RJJD/011766] (9 of 10) [CRLMB-15934/2022]

clearly observed that provisions of Section 55 of the NDPS Act are

merely directory in nature. Thus, no indulgence can be extended

to the petitioner on this count at the stage of bail.

As far as argument raised by the learned counsel for the

petitioner (Kishore) regarding his innocence is concerned, suffice it

to note that both the petitioners were found at the place from

where, huge quantity of contraband has been recovered. That

apart, during personal search of the petitioner, contraband

(smack) weighing 10 gms. was recovered from his personal

possession. The argument of the learned counsel thus deserves to

be rejected.

This court is also conscious of the judgment passed by

Hon'ble the Supreme Court in the case of State of Madhya

Pradesh vs. Kajad reported in (2001) 7 SCC 673, wherein

Hon'ble the Apex Court has observed as under:-

"......Negation of bail is the rule and its grant an exception under sub clause (ii) of clause (b) of Section 37(1). For granting the bail, the court must, on the basis of the record produced before it, be satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the accused is not guilty of the offence with which he is charged and further that he is not likely to commit any offence while on bail. It has further to be noticed that the conditions for granting the bail, specified in clause

(b) of sub-section (1) of Section 37 are in addition to the limitations provided under the Code of Criminal Procedure or any other law for the time being in force regulating the grant of bail. Liberal approach in the matter of bail under the NDPS Act is uncalled for."

Similarly, Hon'ble the Supreme Court in the case of Union of

India vs. Md. Nawaz Khan reported in (2021) 10 SCC 100

considered the position of law with regard to Section 37 of NDPS

Act and held that the test which the High Court are required to

[2023/RJJD/011766] (10 of 10) [CRLMB-15934/2022]

apply while granting bail is that there are reasonable grounds to

believe that the accused has not committed an offence and

whether he is likely to commit any offence while on bail.

Considering the seriousness of offences punishable under the

NDPS Act and in order to curb the menace of drug-trafficking in

the country, stringent parameters for the grant of bail under the

NDPS Act have been prescribed.