ORDER :

The petitioner is the first accused in Crime No.1568 of 2022 of Thrissur Town East Police Station, registered for offences punishable under Sections 22(c) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The prosecution allegation is that, on 10.08.2022, based on the secret information that contraband articles procured from other States are kept for retail sale, the Sub Inspector of Police and party raided the suspected location near to the guardroom of the KSRTC bus stand, Thrissur. Upon such raid, 97 grams of Methamphetamine was recovered and the accused arrested. During interrogation, the accused revealed that the contraband articles were received from New Delhi through DTDC courier. Thereupon, the DTDC Hub at Ernakulam was inspected and 400 grams of Methamphetamine was seized. As the investigation could not be completed within the 180 days of petitioner's arrest, the Public Prosecutor filed Annexure 2 petition under Section 36A(4) of the NDPS Act, seeking extension of the period for completing the investigation by two months. By Annexure 3 order dated 09.02.2023, the Sessions Court allowed the petition and extended the time for completing the investiga