The gravity of the offence and its impact on the public at large can be grounds for denying bail and requiring custodial interrogation.

Dharam Chand Chaudhary, J.

This order shall dispose of both the petitions filed for grant of anticipatory bail. The petitioners are accused in a case registered against them under Section 27(c) read with Sections 18(a)(i), 17B, 36AC of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, vide FIR No.22/16, in Police Station, Kala Amb, District Sirmaur.

2. Accused-petitioner Minakshi Jain is the owner of M/s. Vardhman Pharma, Plot No.32, Industrial Area, Kala Amb. Accused-petitioner Maman Chand Jain is her husband and allegedly general power of attorney. Previously FIR No.70/13 was lodged in Police Station, Kala Amb on 29.9.2013 against both of them for the commission of the similar offence. The premises of M/s. Vardhman Pharma were sealed during the course of investigation in that case. The same, on an application filed by the accused-petitioner, was ordered to be resealed by learned Sessions Judge, Sirmaur District at Nahan and its possession handed over to accused-petitioner Minakshi Jain vide order dated 19.1.2015 subject to her furnishing personal bond undertaking therein that no manufacturing activities shall be carried out without any authorization from the State Drugs Controller and seeking permission of the Court. However, a monthly alert issued by the CDSCO in the month of January, 2016 received from Central Drugs Department, it transpired that samples of drugs manufactured by M/s. Vardhman Pharma were found spurious. Since the premises of M/s. Vardhman Pharma was handed over to accused-petitioner Minakshi Jain subject to the condition that no manufacturing activities shall be carried out therein and as per the alert issued by the CDSCO in the month of March, 2015 the Company, M/s. Vardhman Pharma was not having any valid license by the Drugs Controller Himachal Pradesh, therefore, was not authorized to indulge in any kind of manufacturing activities. The factum of its drugs sample failed as per the alert issued by the CDSCO in the month of January, 2016, has resulted in suspicion that the said firm irrespective of the order suspending manufacturing activities passed by learned Sessions judge Sirmaur at Nahan is still manufacturing spurious drugs without any authorization. Therefore, the complainant-Assistant Drugs Controller, Nahan has secretly observed the activities going on inside the factory premises. When he was satisfied that some manufacturing activities are going on in the factory premises, he informed the State Drugs Controller accordingly. Consequently, a team was formed and the factory premises of the firm were raided on 12.3.2016 around 8.00 p.m. with the assistance of local police in the presence of independent witnesses. At the time of raid, two persons were present inside the factory premises. They allegedly used to punch and pack the medicines at the behest of the accused-petitioners. During the checking of the factory premises, some drugs were found to be manufactured and some were in the process of being manufactured in the name of M/s. Sai Bliss Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, 6-67 Gondpur, Industrial Area, Paonta Sahib, District Sirmaur. Certain labels of drugs “Bihar Government Supply” were also seized. Labels of “M/s. Aims International” Dehradun Road, Paonta, were also found in the factory premises and seized. Therefore, case vide FIR No.22/16 came to be registered against both the accused-petitioners.

3. The investigation conducted at this stage reveals that the drugs seized from the factory premises of the firm on analysis were found spurious. A similar case was registered against the accused-petitioners in Police Station, Kala Amb vide FIR No.70/13, as recorded in the order passed on the previous date. Challan filed in that case is pending consideration in the Court. One FIR bearing No.70/16 has been registered in Police Station, Ambala (Haryana) on 14.3.2016 for the commission of the similar offence against Aniket Jain, the son of the accused-petitioners. Although, learne