JUDGMENT :

Ranjan Sharma, J.

Bail petitioner [Praveen Kumar], who is in custody since 19.12.2023 has come up before this Court, seeking regular bail, under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sahinta, hereinafter (hereinafter referred to as BNSS ), originating from the FIR No.160 of 2023 dated 19.12.2023, registered at Police Station Dharampur, District Mandi, [HP], under Sections 20 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs andPsychotropic Substances Act (referred to as the NDPS Act).

FACTUAL MATRIX IN INSTANT BAIL PETITION:

2. Case as set up by Mr. Udaynand Sharma, Learned Counsel is that the bail petitioner has been implicated by police in FIR No.160 of 2023, alleging that on 19.12.2023 at about 10:00 AM, while, the police was on patrolling near Shivduala, near Kaccha Road, a Taxi bearing registration No.HP-01M-4495 came, in which, the petitioner and the co-accused Rajinder Singh were travelling. On seeing the police, the co-accused Rajinder Singh become perplexed and tried to run away and policy apprehended him and to have recovered the bag, containing the alleged contraband which was kept near handbrake of the front seat of vehicle.

Pursuant thereto, the search was conducted and bag was