The absence of direct evidence against the accused and lack of criminal antecedents justified the granting of bail under the NDPS Act.

Order :

(KULDEEP MATHUR, J.)

This second application for bail under Section 483 BNSS has been filed by the petitioner who has been arrested in connection with F.I.R. No.165/2024 registered at Police Station Nimbahera Sadar, Dist. Chittorgarh, for the offences under Sections 8/15 and 8/29 of NDPS Act.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the allegation against the present petitioner is that he was escorting the pick up vehicle having registration No.HR-66-B-8501, loaded with contraband (poppy husk/straw) weighing 328 Kgs 900 Gms. As per the prosecution, co-accused persons namely Bhaga Ram and Rama Ram Vishnoi who were transporting the contraband in the offending vehicle fled away from the place of incident upon seeing the police personnels.

3. Drawing attention of the Court towards the statements of the Seizure Officer- Sanjay Sharma and Investigating Officer- Ram Sumer recorded before the competent criminal Court, learned counsel submitted that the statements of the Seizure Officer and the Investigating Officer are sufficient proof of the fact that the petitioner has been made an accused in the present case solely on the basis of suspicion without there being any direct evidence available against him on record.

4. Lastly, learned counsel submitted that the petitioner is in judicial custody; the petitioner does not have any criminal antecedents and the trial of the case will take sufficiently long time, therefore, the benefit of bail may be granted to the accused-petitioner.

5. Per contra, learned Public Prosecutor has vehemently opposed the bail application.

6. The relevant portions of the statements recorded before the competent criminal Court during the cross-examination of the Seizure Officer and Investigating Officer are reproduced below for ready reference:-

7. Seizure Officer- Sanjay Sharma (PW-01):-

^^;g lgh gS fd Fkkus ls dk;Zokgh gsrq 8-22 cts jokuk gks x;s FksA ;g lgh gS fd Fkkus ls fudyrs le; dksbZ eksrchj ysdj ugh x;s FksA eksrchj jkgxhj FksA ;g lgh gS fd ryk'kh ls iwoZ vos/kkfud oLrq gksus dh laHkkouk gks x;h FkhA ;g lgh gS fd okgu la[;k vkj ts 39 lh , 5089 ls fdlh izdkj dk dksbZ vos/k eknd inkFkZ ;k MksMk pwjk cjken ugh gqvk rFkk ckcwjke ls Hkh fdlh izdkj dk dksbZ vos/k eknd inkFkZ ;k MksMk pwjk cjken ugh gqvkA ;g Hkh lgh gS fd efgUnzk cksysjk fidvi ftlesa vos/k eknd inkFkZ Fks ml okgu ls Hkh ckcwjke dks tksMus okys fdlh izdkj ds dksbZ nLrkost ugh feys vkSj uk gh MksMk pwjs ds dV~Vs ls Hkh ckcwjke ls tksMus okys dksbZ nLrkosth lk{; feyhA ;g Hkh lgh gS fd ckcwjke ftl okgu dk pyk jgk FkkA ml okgu ls Hkh ihNs vkus okys okgu ftles MksMk pwjk Fkk mlls laca/k LFkkfir djus okys fdlh izdkj ds dksbZ Lor=a nLrkosth lk{; ugh feys tks MksMk pwjk Hkjus okys o Hkkxus okys O;fDr;ks ls laca/k LFkkfir djrs gksA /kkjk 50 dk esjs }kjk dksbZ uksfVl ugh fn;k x;kA ;g lgh gS fd okgu es MksMk pwjk gS] bl ckcr ekSds ls esus mPpkf/kdkfj;ksa dks lwpuk ugh HksthA lafnX/k O;fDr;ks ls Hkh ckcwjke ls laca/k LFkkfir djus okys nLrkost lk{; cjken ugh gqbZ] tks laca/k LFkkfir djrs gksA QnZ tCrh cukrs le; l{ke jktif=r vf/kdkjh ls dksbZ rLnhd ugh djk;h Fkh vkSj uk gh eksds ij esus QnZ tCrh dh dksbZ QksVksxzkQh o fofM;ksxzkQh dh eqn~nseky dh ugh djk;h FkhA ;g lgh gS fd bl izdj.k esa QnZ 55 ds vuqlkj eky[kkuk bapktZ us iqu% lhy ugh fd;k FkkA ;g lgh gS fd tl okgu esa MksM pwjk cjken gqvk mldk LokfeRo dCtk ckcwjke ds ikl ugh FkkA^^

8. Investigating Officer- Ram Sumer (PW-02):-

^^;g dguk xyr gS fd esaus xokgku ds c;ku euedlqn rjhds ls fy[ks gksA ;g lgh gS fd esjs vuqla/kku ls vk;k Fkk ftl okgu esa MksMkpqjk Fkk ml okgu dk lapkyu o vkf/kiR; o dCtk ckcqjke dk ugh FkkA ;g lgh gS fd ftl okgu esa MksMkpqjk Fkk ml okgu ls ckcqjke dk lac/k LFkkfir djus okys fdlh Hkh izdkj ds dksbZ Hkh Lora= nLrkosth lk{; cjken ugh gq, tks MksMkpqjk o ml O;fDr ls ckcqjke dk lac/k LFkkfir djrs gksA ;g lgh gS fd ftl okgu esa ckcqjke Fkk ml okgu ls fdlh izdkj dk vos/k eknd inkFkZ cjken ugh gqvkA esjs vuqla/kku ls ;g Hkh vk;k Fkk fd ftl okgu esa ckcqjke Fkk ml okgu ls o ckcqjke