MANI v. STATE OF PUNJAB
Case Details
CRM-M-34768-2025 -1- 284 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-34768-2025 Date of decision: 05.08.2025 MANPREET SINGH @ MANPREET SINGH AULAKH @ MANI ...PETITIONER VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB ...RESPONDENT CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE Present: Mr. Ashok Giri, Advocate for the petitioner. ANOOP CHITKARA Ms. Pooja Nayar Sharma, DAG, Punjab. **** ANOOP CHITKARA, J. FIR No. Dated Police Station Sections 31 25.09.2024 Fatehgarh Panjtoor, 21 of the NDPS Act (Section 29 District Moga added later on) and 25/27 of Arms Act, 1959 1.
Facts
The petitioner, incarcerated in the FIR captioned above, had come up before this Court under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, [BNSS], seeking regular bail. 2. Per paragraph 17 of the bail application and paragraph 10(E) of the reply/custody certificate, the accused has the following criminal antecedents: Sr. No. 1. FIR No. 50 Date 21.04.2021 Offenses 21/29 of the NDPS Act Police Station STF now ANTF Sector- 79, SAS Nagar (cid:1)(cid:2) Short reply by way of affidavit on behalf of the State and custody certificate of the petitioner have been handed over in the Court today, and the same have been taken on record. A copy thereof has been supplied to the counsel for the petitioner. 4. The facts and allegations are taken from the reply filed by the State. On 25.09.2024, based on secret information, the Police seized 500 grams of heroin and .32 bore pistol with 03 live cartridges from the dickey of Activa, being driven by co-accused Lovejeet Singh @ Lovely while present petitioner and other co-accused were pillion riders. The Investigator claims to have complied with all the statutory requirements of the NDPS Act, 1985, and BNSS, 2023. (cid:3)(cid:2) Petitioner’s counsel submits that the allegations against the petitioner are that petitioner was pillion rider and Lovejeet Singh @ Lovely was the driver and the recovery was effected from the boot for which he is not responsible, and he submits that investigator miserably failed to establish link of petitioner with the recovered heroin and pistol. He Renu Bala 2025.08.20 11:10 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-34768-2025 -2- further submits that link evidence is missing in this case, as Investigator deposited the Activa and pistol in the Malkhana of police station, however, kept the recovered heroin with him. He further prayed for bail on the ground of parity with co-accused who has been granted bail by this Court. The investigation does not prove the relationship between the co-accused. (cid:4)(cid:2) On the other hand, State counsel oppose the bail by referring to the reply. He further submits that petitioner’s name was surfaced in the secret information and petitioner alongwith his two co-accused was in joint possession. As concerned for the ground of parity with Jagpal Singh, petitioner is not at par with him because he was nominated on the basis of disclosure statement of petitioner, as role of petitioner is prime and Jagpal Singh’s is secondary. REASONING: 7. As per para 10(A) of the reply, the name of the drug is heroin, and its weight is 500 grams, and it is a punishable offence in the following terms: Substance Name Quantity detained Quantity type Drug Quantity in % to upper limit of In- termediate Heroin/ Chitta/ Smack/ Brown Sugar/ Di- acetylmorphine 500 Gram Commercial 200.00% Drug's Small & Commercial Qty. suggested by Committee report Notification No. & date Punishable U/s Expert Committee Report dated 24.03.1995 & 23.08.2001 (Small and Commercial) S.21(c) of NDPS Act, 1985 Specified as small & Commercial in S.2(viia) & 2(xxiiia) NDPS Act, 1985 Notification No. & dated S.O.1055(E) 10/19/2001 Sr. No. Common Name (Name of Narcotic Drug and Psycho- tropic Substance (International non-pro- prietary name (INN) Other non-proprietary name Chemical Name Small Quantity Renu Bala 2025.08.20 11:10 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Commercial Quantity 56 Heroin ****** Diacetylmorphine < 5 Gram > 250 Gram CRM-M-34768-2025 -3- Declared as punishable under NDPS Act and as per schedule defined in S.2(xi) & 2(xxiii) NDPS Act, 1985 0 Notification No. & dated S.(xvi)(d) NDPS Act, 1985 (61 of 1985), S.O. 821 (E) 11/14/1985 Sr. No. Common Name (Name of Narcotic Drug and Psycho- tropic Substance (International non-pro- prietary name (INN) Other non-proprietary name 2(xvi)(d) ****** ****** Chemical Name 2(xvi)(d) diacetylmorphine, that is, the al- kaloid also known as dia-morphine or heroin and its salts; Explanation.-- For the purposes of clauses (v) (vi), (xv) and (xvi) the percentages in the case of liquid prepara- tions shall be calculated on the basis that a preparation containing one per cent. of a substance means a preparation in which one gram of substance, if solid, or one mililitre of substance, if liquid, is contained in every one hundred mililitre of the preparation and so on in proportion for any greater or less percent- age: Provided that the Central Government may, having regard to the developments in the field of methods of calculating percentages in liquid preparations prescribed, by rules, any other basis which it may deem appropriate for such calculation. 8. The quantity allegedly involved in this case is commercial. Given this, the rigors of S. 37 of the NDPS Act apply in the present case. The petitioner must satisfy the twin conditions put in place by the Legislature under Section 37 of the NDPS Act. 9. It would be appropriate to refer to the following portions of the reply, which read as follows: “C. Evidence against the petitioner: As petitioner was apprehended red handed and from possession of petition and his co-accused 500 grams heroin and 32 bore revolver were recovered, so there is sufficient evidence against the petitioner in the present case. D. Role of the petitioner: On 25.09.2024, petitioner and his co- Renu Bala 2025.08.20 11:10 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-34768-2025 -4- accused were apprehended red handed and from the scooty, which was in joint possession of petitioner and others 032 bore revolver and 500 grams of heroin was recovered.” 10. Section 371 of the NDPS Act mandates under sub-section (1) (b) of section 37 that no person accused of an offense punishable for offenses involving commercial quantity shall be released on bail unless- (i) the Public Prosecutor has been given an opportunity to oppose the application of release, and (ii) where the Public Prosecutor opposes the application, the Court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that accused is not guilty of such offense and is not likely to commit any offense while on bail. Thus, the rigors of S. 37 of the NDPS Act apply in the present case, and the burden is on the petitioner to satisfy the twin conditions put in place by the Legislature under Section 37 of the NDPS Act. Given the legislative mandate of S. 37 of the NDPS Act, the Court can release a person accused of an offense punishable under the NDPS Act for possessing a commercial quantity of contraband only after recording reasonable satisfaction of its rigors. 11. The State’s Counsel argues that a plain reading of Section 37 reveals that the legislature intends to make the law stringent to curb the drug menace. It is further to be noticed that the provisions are couched in negative language, meaning that to grant bail, the Court needs to record a finding that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the petitioner is not guilty of the offense. The burden of proof is also on the petitioner to satisfy the Court about his non-involvement in the case. While interpreting the provisions of Section 37 of the NDPS Act, the Court must be guided by the objective sought to be achieved by putting these stringent conditions. 12. Satisfying the fetters of S. 37 of the NDPS Act is candling the infertile eggs. The stringent conditions of section 37 placed in the statute by the legislature do not create a bar for bail for specified categories, including the commercial quantity; however, it creates hurdles by placing a reverse burden on the accused, and once crossed, the rigors no more exist, and the factors for bail become similar to the bail petitions under general penal statutes like IPC. Thus, both the twin conditions need to be satisfied before a person accused of possessing a commercial quantity of drugs or psychotropic substance is to be released on bail. The first condition is to provide an opportunity to the Public Prosecutor, enabling them to take a stand on the bail application. The second stipulation is that the Court must be satisfied that reasonable grounds exist for believing that the accused is not guilty of such an offense and is not likely to commit any offense while on bail. If either of (cid:5)(cid:6)37. Offences to be cognizable and non-bailable.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974),— (a) every offence punishable under this Act shall be cognizable; (b) no person accused of an offence punishable for offences under section 19 or section 24 or section 27A and also for offences involving commercial quantity shall be released on bail or on his own bond unless— (i) the Public Prosecutor has been given an opportunity to oppose the application for such release, and (ii) where the Public Prosecutor opposes the application, the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that he is not guilty of such offence and that he is not likely to commit any offence while on bail. (2) The limitations on granting of bail specified in clause (b) of sub-section (1) are in addition to the limitations under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) or any other law for the time being in force on granting of bail. Renu Bala 2025.08.20 11:10 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-34768-2025 -5- these conditions is not met, the ban on granting bail operates. The expression “reasonable grounds” means something more than prima facie grounds. It contemplates substantial probable causes for believing the accused is not guilty of the alleged offense. Even on fulfilling one of the conditions, the reasonable grounds for believing that the accused is not guilty of such an offense, the Court still cannot give a finding on the assurance that the accused is not likely to commit any such crime again. 13. There is no merit in the arguments advanced by the counsel for the petitioner, as concerned for the keeping of contraband by investigator with him is a question of fact which could be establish during cross-examination and it could not be taken while deciding bail petition. As concerned for the possession, petitioner was named in the secret information, further his disclosure qua involvement of other accused connects him with the contraband, further he is not entitled on parity because said Jagpal singh was arrainged as accused on the disclosure of petitioner. An analysis of this would make it clear that the quantity is commercial and the rigors of S.37 of NDPS apply, throwing burden on the accused. 14. 15. The petitioner’s arguments did not point toward any material contradictions. The submissions made above and the grounds in the bail petition do not shift the burden that the legislature places on the accused under S. 37 of the NDPS Act. The petitioner has not stated anything in the bail petition to discharge the burden put by the stringent conditions placed in the statute by the legislature under section 37 of the NDPS
Legal Reasoning
Act. The investigation reveals sufficient prima facie evidence to connect the petitioner with the crime; thus, the petitioner fails to make out a case for bail. Any detailed discussions about the evidence may prejudice the case of the petitioner, the State, or the other accused. 16. In Union of India (NCB) v. Khalil Uddin, decided on 21 Oct 2022, 2022 SCC OnLine SC 2109, Hon’the ble Supreme Court holds, [4]. According to the prosecution, contraband material weighing about 13 kgs. of morphine was found in a motor vehicle which was driven by co-accused named Md. Jakir Hussain. During the course of investigation, it was found that the motor vehicle was recorded in the name of Md. Nizam Uddin who had executed a sale letter and handed over the custody of the vehicle to accused Md. Abdul Hai and that accused Md. Jakir Hussain was the driver employed by accused Md. Abdul Hai and that contraband material in question was to be handed over to accused-Khalil Uddin, an owner of a tea shop. [5]. The High Court by its order which is presently under challenge, directed release of both the accused as stated above on bail after they had undergone custody to the tune of about a year. Questioning grant of relief to said accused, the instant appeals have been preferred. [7]. What emerges from the record is that large quantity of contraband weighing about 13 kgs of morphine was found in a car which was driven by Md. Jakir Hussain. Whether the role played by said Md. Jakir Hussain could get connected with both the accused is a question. [8]. The answer to said question could be the statement recorded of Renu Bala 2025.08.20 11:10 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-34768-2025 -6- Md. Nizam Uddin. The statement of Md. Jakir Hussain recorded under Section 67 of the Act has also named his owner accused Abdul Hai. We are conscious of the fact that the validity and scope of such statements under Section 67 has been pronounced upon by this Court in Tofan Singh v. State of Tamil Nadu . In State by (NCB) Bengaluru v. Pallulabid Ahmad Arimutta , the rigour of law lay down by this Court in Tofan Singh was held to be applicable even at the stage of grant of bail. [9]. However, going by the circumstances on record, at this stage, on the strength of the statement of Md. Nizam Uddin, though allegedly retracted later, the matter stands on a different footing. In our considered view, in the face of the mandate of Section 37 of the Act, the High Court could not and ought not to have released the accused on bail. We, therefore, allow these appeals, set aside the view taken by the High Court and direct that both the appellants be taken in custody forthwith. [10]. We have been given to understand that the charge-sheet has been filed. In the circumstances, we direct the Trial Court to take up the matter and conclude the proceedings as early as possible and preferably within six months from the receipt of this order. 17. In Narayan Takri v. State of Odisha, decided on 10 Sep 2024, SLP (Crl.) 8198- 2024, Hon’ble Supreme Court holds, The petitioners are in custody since 28th May, 2022 for alleged commission of alleged offence under Section 20(b)(ii)(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. As per the FIR allegation, 125.3 kg. of “Ganja” was recovered from the petitioners. [3]. It is not in dispute that the trial has commenced and that three prosecution witnesses have been examined till date. [4]. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the third prosecution witness was examined as far back as on 28th January, 2024 and since then, no other prosecution witness has been examined. There is, however, no such averment in the petition. [5]. Learned counsel appearing for the respondent submits that every endeavor shall be made on behalf of the prosecution to have all the witnesses examined by the end of this year. [6]. The trial court is encouraged to expedite the trial and give its decision as early as possible, in accordance with law. [7]. We, however, do not see any reason to interfere the impugned judgment and order at this stage; however, it is clarified that in the event the trial is not completed by the end of this year, the petitioners shall be at liberty to renew their prayer for bail before the trial court. 18. A perusal of the bail petition and the documents attached primafacie points towards the petitioner’s involvement and does not make out a case for bail. The impact of crime would also not justify bail. Any further discussions will likely prejudice the petitioner; this court refrains from doing so. Renu Bala 2025.08.20 11:10 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 19. The petitioner’s custody of around 09 months and 12 days cannot be termed prolonged, given the minimum sentence prescribed for the offense, which is 10 years. CRM-M-34768-2025 -7- 20. Any observation made hereinabove is neither an expression of opinion on the case's merits nor shall the trial Court advert to these comments. 21. Petition dismissed. Interim orders, if any, are recalled with immediate effect. All
Decision
pending applications, if any, are disposed of. (ANOOP CHITKARA) JUDGE August 05, 2025 renubala Whether speaking/reasoned: Whether reportable: Yes No. Renu Bala 2025.08.20 11:10 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document