IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
GURVINDER SINGH GILL, J.
Jitender Kumar @ Jeetu – Petitioner
Versus
State of Haryana – Respondent
CRM-M-24031 of 2022 (O&M)
Decided On : 31-05-2024
JUDGMENT
Gurvinder Singh Gill, J.
This order shall dispose of the above mentioned 3rd petition filed on behalf of petitioner seeking grant of regular bail in respect of the aforementioned FIR; and also the application i.e. CRM-19318-2024 filed on behalf of the petitioner seeking extension of interim bail as granted to him vide order dated 12.2.2024.
2. The allegations as levelled against the petitioner are that on 2.10.2020 when a team of Anti Narcotic Cell, Sirsa was present at Red Light Chowk, Sirsa then a secret information was received by ASI Mahender Singh, who was heading the said team to the effect that Jitender Kumar @ Jeetu indulges in supplying 'heroin' and that even on the given day, he was to proceed from his rented house in street No.5, DC Colony, Sirsa to Punjab for sale of 'heroin' in his Maruti Zen car bearing registration No.UP-32AK-5345. Pursuant to receipt of said information, an intimation in terms of Section 42 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 was sent to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Head Quarter Sirsa through ESI Raj Kumar and the team headed by ASI Mahender Singh proceeded towards street No.5, DC Colony, Sirsa, where barricades were laid for checking. Shortly after some time, a car bearing registration No.UP-32-AK-5345 was seen, but its driver, upon noticing the police party, tried to turn back the car but failed to do so as other cars were parked in the street. The person driving the vehicle was apprehended and upon inquiry, disclosed his name as Jitender Kumar @ Jeetu. Upon being asked as to why he was trying to turn back the car, he could not furnish any satisfactory reply. It was suspected that he was carrying some contraband and accordingly a notice in terms of provisions of Section 50 of NDPS Act was served upon him intimating him that he had an option to be searched before a Magistrate or a Gazetted Officer. Jitender Kumar @ Jeetu expressed that he wanted his search as well as of his car to be effected in the presence of a Gazetted Officer. Accordingly Shri. Kalu Ram, SDO, PH Division No.2 Sirsa was contacted telephonically and was requested to come at the spot. When Shri. Kalu Ram, SDO reached at the spot Jitender Kumar @ Jeetu was produced before him and search of Jitender Kumar @ Jeetu as well as of car bearing registration No.UP-32-AK-5345 was effected. A green coloured polythene bag was recovered from the pants worn by Jitender Kumar @ Jeetu and upon checking, the same was found to contain 'heroin' in a transparent polythene bag, which upon weighment was found to weigh 350 grams. Upon interrogation of Jitender Kumar @ Jeetu by ASI Mahender Singh, he disclosed that long time earlier Jangir Singh @ Jangira had sold the contraband to him.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has falsely been implicated in the present case and that there is no evidence worth credence to establish the allegations levelled against him pertaining to recovery of 350 grams of 'heroin'. It has further been submitted that the petitioner is suffering from various ailments and was having stone in his gall bladder and that although he had been operated upon, but he still needs some surgery. It has been submitted that the contention of the petitioner as regards his medical ailments had been accepted earlier and the petitioner had been granted interim bail and since his condition has now worsened, he deserves regular bail or in alternative, deserves extension of interim bail.
4. Opposing the petition, learned State counsel submitted that the petitioner has been misusing the procedure of law and had been making false representations regarding his ailments and that no doubt he had been granted interim bail at one stage, but this Court, upon noticing that the petitioner had been misusing the concession, had specifically directed him to surrender before the jail authorities vide order dated 13.5.2022 passed in CRM-M- 16084-2021 (Annexure P-10). It has, however, been informed
AI
The court denied bail due to the petitioner's misuse of interim bail and involvement in multiple NDPS Act cases, emphasizing the need for procedural adherence and the risk of reoffending.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the consideration of substantial custody and the admissibility and veracity of disclosure statements in bail applications under the NDPS Act.
The court considered arguable points, substantial custody, and the likelihood of a prolonged trial due to the COVID-19 pandemic in granting regular bail.
The central legal point established in the judgment is the consideration of the unlikelihood of carrying contraband in a transparent bag, non-compliance with Section 50 of the Act, and the absence of....
Bail may be granted if the accused is named in a co-accused's disclosure statement without corroborative evidence, especially after substantial custody time, aligning with the right to a speedy trial....
The compliance of provisions under Section 50 of NDPS Act, the recovered quantity of contraband, and the application of Section 37 of NDPS Act are crucial in determining bail applications under the N....
NDPS Act - Rejection of Bail – Evidence and material on record is not required to be pre-judged and parties can establish their case during trial.
Front passenger in vehicle with intermediate heroin quantity has prima facie conscious possession; bail granted to first-time offender likely for personal use, no Section 37 rigours, societal roots, ....
The main legal point established is the stringent requirement of reasonable grounds for believing that the accused is not guilty of the alleged offence and is not likely to commit any offence while o....
The court granted bail under the NDPS Act, emphasizing the right to a speedy trial and the prolonged custody of the petitioner, despite the serious nature of the charges.
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