IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, J.
Mohd. Akhtar @ Raja - Appellant
Versus
State of NCT of Delhi - Respondent
Bail Appln. 84 of 2022
Decided On : 28-09-2022
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. factual basis for drug trafficking charges. (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. arguments for and against bail application. (Para 4 , 5) |
| 3. court's analysis on bail criteria and evidence. (Para 6 , 7 , 8) |
| 4. conclusion denying bail request. (Para 9) |
Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, J. An application has been preferred on behalf of the petitioner under Section 439 Cr.PC for grant of regular bail in FIR No.63/2015 under Sections 18/21/25/29 of the NDPS Act, 1985.
2. In brief, as per the case of the prosecution, during monitoring of interception of mobile numbers, suspectedly used by drug peddlers, it was revealed that members of drug syndicate are in touch with each other and indulge in drug trafficking in Delhi, Punjab, J & K and Rajasthan. Further, on receiving secret information on 18.11.2015, a trap was laid at Burari crossing where Durgesh @ Mangal handed over a packet containing 1 kg white coloured heroin to Harjinder Singh. Both of them were apprehended and 1 kg heroin was recovered from the scooty of Durgesh @ Mangal at the spot. The Verna car used by Harjinder and the scooty used by Durgesh @ Mangal were seized at the spot. Also, many mobile numbers and sim cards including 8558054298, which was under interception were seized. Further, accused Durgesh @ Mandal disclosed that he along with Mohd. Akhtar @ Raja (petitioner herein), a resident of Jafrabad, Delhi used to supply narcotic drugs to various drug suppliers in Delhi and Punjab. He also disclosed that Mohd. Akhtar @ Raja used to get supply from one Sehzad as well as from a Nigerian national in Vikaspuri. He also disclosed that Mohd. Akhtar @ Raja had kept huge quantity of heroin, opium and alprazolam at his rented house in Laxmi Nagar, Delhi. Accordingly, on the house search of Durgesh @ Mangal at 1/184, Laxmi Nagar, 2 kgs of opium and 1kg alprazolam were recovered at the instance of Durgesh @ Mangal. During investigation, Ubah Casmir Amobi, a Nigerian national was arrested on 19.11.2015 from Vikas Puri at the instance of Durgesh @ Mangal and 300 gms of heroin was recovered. Further, on disclosure of Durgesh @ Mangal, Ashwani @ Abu Bakr was arrested on 20.11.2015 near Seelampur, Delhi wherein he came to receive a consignment of heroin from Mohd. Akhtar @ Raja. One swift car along with 3 mobile handsets and many sim cards were recovered from Ashwani @ Abu Bakr. Also 500 gms of heroin was recovered from the house of Ashwani @ Abu Bakr at Punjab.
During investigation, Mohd. Akhtar @ Raja was arrested from Darya Ganj on 25.11.2015. On 27.11.2015, after taking police remand, 525 gms of heroin was recovered from his newly purchased flat at Seelampur, Delhi. Further, on disclosure of Mohd. Akhtar @ Raja, accused Shabir Ahmed Bhat @ Sehjad was arrested on 29.11.2015 in his Eco Sports car in New Friends Colony and 1.8 kgs of heroin was recovered on search of his car. Also, on 01.12.2015, Ezeh Chinedu Joseph and his associate Ugo Geoffery Franklin were arrested in Zeta car in New Friends Colony and 1 kg of heroin was recovered from their possession. One Imamudin was also arrested on 03.12.2015 from Jungpura Extension and 400 gms of heroin was recovered from him.
3. Thus, as per investigation complete chain of 9 drug suppliers was established with the arrest of aforesaid persons. Charge-sheet was accordingly filed and charge is stated to have been framed against the accused.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case and is in custody since 25.11.2015. It is further submitted that no contraband was recovered from the possession of the accused on 25.11.2015 when he was arrested and the alleged recovery has been effected only during the policy custody remand. It is also urged that the recovery was effected from house No.7/14, Second Floor, Gali No.5/10, near New Moon Public School which was opened with a key alleged to have been recovered from the personal search of the petitioner on 25.11.2015. Howeve
The court denied bail under the NDPS Act due to substantial evidence of involvement in drug trafficking and failure to prove innocence, in line with stringent bail conditions.
Points of law : Grant or rejection of bail under the NDPS Act is governed by Section 37 of the Act. Under Section 37 of the Act, the court before granting bail has to be satisfied that there are reas....
Bail under the NDPS Act requires evidence proving reasonable belief in the accused's innocence and no risk of reoffending, with the burden on the accused to demonstrate these conditions.
The court emphasized that under the NDPS Act, bail can only be granted if there are reasonable grounds for believing the accused is not guilty and unlikely to offend again, reaffirming the need for s....
Narcotic Drugs - Bail Application dismissed - Heroin - Powers of High Court or Court of Session regarding bail - Power to grant bail is not only subject to limitations contained under S. 439 CrPC, bu....
In narcotic offences involving commercial quantities, bail cannot be granted unless the accused demonstrates reasonable belief of innocence and lack of reoffending risk, as mandated by Section 37 of ....
Bail under the NDPS Act requires substantial evidence indicating the accused is not guilty, prioritizing public safety and the integrity of judicial processes over personal liberty.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the significance of intercepted phone conversations, matching voice samples, and large recovery of contraband in establishing the existence of a co....
The court ruled that anticipatory bail cannot be granted under the NDPS Act when the accused is implicated through co-accused confessions and has a history of drug offenses.
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