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2017 Supreme(P&H) 1765

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
ARVIND SINGH SANGWAN, J.
Harnand Singh - Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab - Respondents
CRM-M-24151 of 2017 (O&M)
Decided On : 19-07-2017

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner:Mr. R.S.Rai, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Karan Pathak, Advocate
For the Respondents: Mr. Kirat Singh Sidhu, DAG, Punjab.

Headnote:

NDPS Act - Pre-arrest Bail - Sections 15, 61, 85 of NDPS Act - Summary of Acts and Sections: The court discussed the petitioner's innocence based on an inquiry report and the challan under Section 173 Cr.P.C. The court also considered the prosecution's application under Section 319 Cr.P.C. to summon the petitioner as an additional accused. Key legal provisions such as anticipatory bail under the NDPS Act and the requirement of custodial interrogation were highlighted, influencing the court's decision to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner sought pre-arrest bail in a case under Sections 15, 61, 85 of NDPS Act. The petitioner was initially arrested but later found innocent based on an inquiry report and released by the trial Court. The prosecution subsequently moved an application to summon the petitioner as an additional accused, leading to the present petition for pre-arrest bail.

Finding of the Court:

The court allowed the petition and granted anticipatory bail to the petitioner, emphasizing that custodial interrogation was not required as the petitioner had been found innocent and released by the trial Court previously.

Issues: The main issue was whether the petitioner should be granted pre-arrest bail in light of the prosecution's application to summon the petitioner as an additional accused.

Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the petitioner's previous release based on innocence, the requirement of custodial interrogation, and the provisions of anticipatory bail under the NDPS Act.

Final Decision: The petition was allowed, and the petitioner was granted anticipatory bail with the direction to appear before the trial Court for release on bail bonds/surety bonds. The prosecution was also given the option to apply for cancellation of bail if the petitioner was involved in any other case during the pendency of the petition.

JUDGMENT :

ARVIND SINGH SANGWAN, J.

1. The petitioner is seeking pre-arrest bail in case FIR No.33 dated 09.03.2016, under Sections 15, 61, 85 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short 'NDPS Act') registered at police Station Chhajali, District Sangrur.

2. It is submitted on behalf of the petitioner that the petitioner was initially arrested on 09.03.2016 and was released from the custody till further order vide order dated 01.08.2016 passed by the trial Court on an application given by the prosecution that on the basis of an inquiry conducted by S.P.(D) Sangrur, the petitioner was found to be innocent. Later on, the police has submitted the challan under section 173 Cr.P.C. and the petitioner was placed in column No.2 on the basis of the inquiry report. Learned Senior counsel for the petitioner has referred to the operative part of the challan under Section 173 Cr.P.C., which reads as under:-

“Thereafter upon my inquiry and from the investigation of the case it is submitted that upon filing of application by Jasveer Kaur W/o Harnand Singh S/o Rachhpal Singh Caste Jatt R/o House No. 6768 Gali No.1, Punjab Enclave, Near Lohara Bridge, Ludhiana has been found innocent in case Number 33 dated 09.03.2016 under Section 15/61/85 of NDPS Act P.S. Chhajli, Case Number 23 dated 24.02.2016 under Sections 15/61/85 of NDPS Act P.S. Sadar Ahmadgarh. Therefore, Harnand Singh is to be released from Judicial Custody in above mentioned both the cases and accused in case number 23/16 Police Station Ahmadgarh namely Paramjit Singh who was actual Car Driver is to be traced and to be arrested. If approved then appropriate orders may be issued to Station House Officer, Chhajli and Station House Officer Police Station Sadar Ahmedgarh. Upon the investigation report worthy S.S.P. Mentioned “Allowed”. And appended his signatures. Accused persons Harbhajan Singh alias Teja S/o Balbir Singh, Barjesh Jatav S/o Ram Sarup, Sonu S/o Sunny, Paramjit Singh S/o Baj Singh in their statements and during interrogation conducted by Sh. Jaskaranjit Singh Teja SP have revealed that they have not seen now nor earlier Harnand Singh S/o Rachhpal Singh Caste Jat R/o Lohara, District Ludhiana nor they know Harnand Singh, nor had they any conversation with Harnand Singh ever. The day when the Police arrested them Harnand Singh reached the spot at later stage, in this regard all the accused persons have recorded their statements before Respectable S.P. Under Section 175 Cr.P.C. which are annexed with the inquiry report. Apart from that Phone location of Harnand Singh was also not at the place of occurrence. Paramjit Singh brought Harnand Singh on the pretext o f paying obeisance, who have also admitted during entire investigation and before S.P. Sir in his written statement that he accompanied Harnand Singh on the pretext or paying obeisance because he cannot drive Car, he himself is handicapped. Apart from that Harnand Singh Graduate B. Com from Khalsa College Amritsar and is educated person and is verified doing a job. His past record has also verified as good. On the basis of which Respectable S.P. has declared Harnand Singh as innocent. That before the Hon'ble Court myself Insp. moved an application regarding Harnand Singh being innocent in the present case and prayed for discharging him, on the basis of which Hon'ble Court has discharged Harnand Singh in the present case on dated 01.08.2016.”

3. Learned Senior counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner was found innocent and therefore, recovery of 30 Kgs of poppy husk was not proved to be recovered from him. It is further submitted that now, the prosecution has moved an application under Section 319 Cr.P.C., dated 05.05.2017 and has prayed for summoning the petitioner as an additional accused on the basis of the statement of PW-1 HC-Mukhtiar Singh and PW-2 ASI Baljinder Singh. The trial Court, vide order dated 30.05.2017 has summoned the petitioner to face the trial and as such, th





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