The court emphasized that discrepancies in evidence and lack of criminal history justify granting bail, highlighting the importance of credible and consistent evidence in drug-related offenses.

JUDGMENT :

NEELA GOKHALE, J.

1. By this Application, the Applicant seeks his enlargement on bail in connection with C.R. No. 21 of 2025 dated 7^th January, 2025, registered with the Kalwa Police Station, for the offences punishable under Sections 22 (c), 8(c) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (‘NDPS’) and Sections 18 -A, 18H read with Sections 27 (c) and 28(c) of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act, 1940.

2. The facts of the case, in brief, are that on 6^th January, 2025, on a specific intelligence received by the Crime Branch, Unit – 1, Thane that some person is dealing in purchase and sale of cough syrup bottles containing Codeine. Accordingly, a trap was set and the person who is the Applicant herein was found in possession of 240 bottles of Codeine Phosphate and Triprolidine HCI Syrup. After following the due process of under the NDPS Act, said bottles were seized and panchanama was recorded. Consequently, the FIR was registered and the Applicant was arrested on the same day.

3. The Applicant has made an application seeking bail before the Special Judge (NDPS), Thane, however, by order dated 9^th September, 2025, the said Application was rejected. Hence, the Applicant has filed the present Application for the reliefs as prayed.

4. Ms. Achari, learned counsel for the Applicant, has raised a vital objection to the rejection of bail application. She has brought to my attention the description of the bottles seized from the Applicant and recorded in the Trap Panchanama dated 6^th January, 2025, wherein Batch Number of the bottles as indicated on the label of the bottles is AN- 1634. She then draws my attention to the Inventory Panchanama which is totally different. The Inventory Panchanama records Batch Number as AN-1608. According to her, there is possibility that the bottles which were recovered from the Applicant were replaced with other bottles. She thus, submits that there is every reason to believe that the Applicant has not committed the said offence and that bottles recovered from him were only cough syrups.

5. Ms. Bajoria, learned APP representing the State, made strenuous efforts to demolish the case of Ms. Achari. She submits that probably there is typographical error and there is a no room for doubting that the Applicant has not committed said offence. She also points to the other details typed in the Trap Panchanama which are identical to the details typed in the Inventory Panchanama. She submits that at best this is a typographical error. She submits that the offence is serious and the Applicant was found in possession of as many as 240 bottles of Codeine Phosphate Syrup and prays that the Bail Application be rejected. However, she fairly concedes that there are no criminal antecedents against the present Applicant.

6. I have heard learned counsel for the respective parties and perused the record of the case with their assistance.

7. Admittedly, the details appearing in the Trap Panchanama regarding the details of the bottles seized and the details as it appear in the Inventory Panchanama are distinct. The Batch number shown in the Trap Panchanama is AN-1634 whereas the Batch number shown in the Inventory Panchanama is AN-1608. It does not appear to be a typographical error since there is large difference between AN-1634 and AN-1608. There is possibility that the bottles seized from the Applicant were different from those produced before the Magistrate at the time of recording Inventory Panchanama. There is a reason to believe that the Applicant has not committed the present offence. There are no antecedents against the Applicant. There is also reason to believe that he may not commit the said offence again. In these circumstances, I am inclined to