ORDER :

Petitioner is accused in case FIR No. 41 dated 13.6.2021 registered at Police Station, Narcotics Control Bureau, Sub Zone, Mandi, District Mandi, H.P. under Sections 8, 20 and 29 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Act. The petitioner was arrested on 8th February, 2022.

2. The brief facts of the case are that officials of Narcotics Control Bureau (for short ‘NCB’), Sub Zone, Mandi had laid a ‘Nakka’ at place Pul Gharat near Mandi town on a secret information. Simranjeet Singh and Amanpreet Singh were apprehended with motorcycle No. PB-13-AD2700. Whereas Simranjeet Singh was the rider, Amanpreet Singh was on the pillion. 526 grams of charas was recovered from the bag carried by Ms. Amanpreet Singh and 780 grams of charas was recovered from the bag carried by Simranjeet Singh. Both were found to be husband and wife. The case was formally registered and both the above noted persons were arrested.

3. During investigation, the Investigating Officer found that Simranjeet Singh had purchased charas from the petitioner against consideration. Efforts were made to trace the petitioner, but he could not be found until he filed an application for grant of pre-arrest bail before this C