IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Anish Dayal, J.
Munish Gautam – Appellant
Versus
State Govt of NCT of Delhi – Respondent
Bail Appln. 530 of 2023
Decided On : 11-04-2023
NDPS Act - Bail Application - Section 20 - [NDPS Act, Section 20] - The court discussed the provisions of section 20 of the NDPS Act in the context of the bail application, considering the recovery of charas from the petitioner and the legal rights explained to him during the apprehension.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner seeks regular bail in a case under section 20 of the NDPS Act. The prosecution alleges that the petitioner was apprehended with 2 kgs of charas, while the petitioner claims to have been falsely framed. The court notes discrepancies in the prosecution's case, including the timing of the recovery and the presence of the petitioner's wife at the police station before his arrest.
Finding of the Court:
The court finds that the issues raised by the petitioner are of a technical nature and would need to be proved by evidence during trial. The court also notes that the petitioner's period of incarceration is less than half of the minimum prescribed, and expects the trial to be completed within the next 6 months.
Issues: The issues revolve around the timing and manner of the petitioner's apprehension, the recovery of charas, and the presence of the petitioner's wife at the police station.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasizes the technical nature of the issues raised and the need for evidence during trial. It also considers the petitioner's period of incarceration in relation to the directives of the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
Final Decision: The petition is disposed of, and pending applications are disposed of as infructuous. The court expects the trial to be completed within the next 6 months, and the petitioner may seek bail on completion of a more substantial period of sentence, in accordance with law and directives of the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
JUDGMENT
1. By this bail application, the petitioner seeks regular bail in FIR No.47/2019 registered at PS Crime Branch under section 20 of the NDPS Act. The petitioner is in custody since 6th March2019, wherein the charge-sheet has been filed and the case is pending trial for prosecution evidence. 4 out of 14 witnesses have been examined.
2. The case of the prosecution is that on 5th March 2019, upon receipt of information, the petitioner, who allegedly used to supply charas, was apprehended near International Guest House, Delhi University at about 5:00 p.m. Notice under section 50 of the NDPS Act was served upon him and his legal rights were explained but he refused to avail the facility of presence of a gazetted officer. No psychotropic substance was recovered from his body search, however 2 kgs charas was recovered from the search of his scooter No. DL 9S AX 8053. Samples were drawn, case property was sealed and deposited in the maalkhana. The petitioner was arrested and later the samples were sent to FSL, Rohini. The result from the FSL was received which confirmed that the sealed substance was charas. The said scooter was found registered in the name of the petitioner himself.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner states that the petitioner has been falsely framed since both the petitioner and his wife were apprehended and no incriminating article was recovered from them. A perusal of the charge-sheet would show that the petitioner was already present in the PS and was falsely framed. The prosecution had alleged that the petitioner was apprehended on 5th March2019 and thereafter the recovered items were sent to the PS to deposit in the maalkhana through Ct. Rakesh Rathi. The maalkhana entry regarding the deposit shows the date of deposit to be 5th March 2019. Pursuant to an RTI filed regarding the date and time of arrival of Ct. Rakesh Rathi, a reply was received stating that the constable only returned to the PS at 3:30 a.m. on 6th March 2019 which falsifies the case of the prosecution that the recovery was effected and brought to the PS on 5th March, 2019. Further the maalkhana register itself shows that no sealed sample was ever deposited in the maalkhana. Despite the case of the prosecution that the personal search was conducted on 6th March 2019, the articles that were recovered were deposited in the maalkhana on 5th March 2019 itself. This would show that that the petitioner was already present in the PS and was not apprehended in the manner alleged by the prosecution. This would be evident from the personal search memo dated 6th March 2019 and the maalkhana entry of 5th March2019 as well as the DD Entry for 6th March, 2019. Further, it was contended that as per prosecution information regarding arrest of the petitioner was given to his wife telephonically at 3:30 a.m. on 6th March 2019 however a perusal of arrest memo shows that it was prepared at 2:00 a.m. on 6th March2019 and bears the signatures of his wife further showing that petitioner's wife was present in the PS even before his arrest. Also, call records of the petitioner's wife indicate that she had not received any call from the police at that time. The petitioner's wife had filed an application for preserving the CCTV footage to show that no recovery was effected, but in the reply the police stated that the cameras were not working due to a fire and the same could not be preserved. Another application was filed for preserving the mobile tower location of the mobile of wife of the petitioner and the location chart would show that at about 18:53 hrs on 5th March 2019, the location of said mobile phone was at Ramesh Park, Laxmi Nagar indicating that she was already in the office of the Crime Branch, Shakarpur at that time. CDR showing the location has also been appended along with mobile tower chart. Further, while the prosecution stated the recovery was effected at the spot and was converted into pullandas, the DD entry made by the SHO reads that two p
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The court emphasized strict compliance with procedural safeguards under the NDPS Act, highlighting that significant lapses can undermine the prosecution's case, especially in light of prolonged incar....
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