In cases involving commercial quantities of narcotics under the NDPS Act, bail can only be granted if there are reasonable grounds to believe the accused is not guilty and will not commit further offenses, as mandated by Section 37.

ORDER:

This Criminal Petition, under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, has been filed by the petitioners/A.3 & A.7, seeking regular bail, in Crime No.78 of 2025 of Golugonda Police Station, Anakapalli District, registered for the offence punishable under Sections 20(b)(ii)(C), 25 read with 8(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 19.08.2025 at about 10:00 A.M., based on credible information, the police apprehended the petitioner/accused Nos.3 and 7, who were coming on vehicle in illegal possession of a commercial quantity of ganja at the outskirts of Komira villagevia Gabbada towards Narsipatnam and recorded their confessions in the presence of a Gazetted Officer and mediators, and seized 216kgs of ganja. Hence, the crime.

3. Heard Sri Prem Kumar.T, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mrs.K. Priyanka Lakshmi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the State.

4. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor would submit that the investigation has not yet been completed and that a petition filed seeking extension of time to complete the investigation has been allowed upto 262 days. She, therefore, prays for dismissal of the petition.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are innocent and have been in judicial custody since 19.08.2025, and prays that this Court may pass appropriate orders.

6. Considering the submissions made and upon a fair perusal of the material placed on record, this Court notes that the case involves seizure of 216 kgs of ganja, which constitutes a commercial quantity. It is also brought to the notice of this Court that the petition seeking extension of time to complete the investigation has been allowed up to 262 days.

7. The Hon’ble Apex Court in State of Kerala v. Rajesh¹(2020)12SCC122 at Paragraph Nos.8, 19, 20 and 21 held as under:

8. To curb the spread of dangerous drugs, Parliament has mandated that an accused under the NDPS Act cannot be granted bail unless there are reasonable grounds to believe he is not guilty and will not commit offences while on bail. The High Court failed to justify ignoring these mandatory conditions when releasing the accused. Instead of considering the grave socio-economic and health consequences of illegal drug trafficking, the court ought to have enforcedthelaw inthespirit intendedby Parliament.

19. Section 37 imposes additional, overriding restrictions on the grant of bail, beyond thoseunder Section 439 CrPC, through its non obstante clause. It prohibits bail unless two mandatory conditions are met: the prosecution is given an opportunity to oppose, and the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe the accused is not guilty. If either condition is not fulfilled, the bar against granting bail applies.

20.The term “reasonable grounds” requires more than mere prima facie satisfaction; it demands substantial, probable causes showing the accused is not guilty. Such belief must arise from facts and circumstances sufficient to justify that conclusion. In the present case, the High Court overlooked the strict object of Section 37, and its liberal approachtobail under theNDPS Act wasunwarranted.

21.The learned Single Judge failed to record the mandatory finding required under Section 37 of the NDPS Act, which is a sine qua non for granting bail insuchcases.

8. In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case, the request of the petitioners cannot be considered at this juncture inasmuch as there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the petitioners have not indulged in the commission of the alleged offence and if the petitioners are released on bail they would not commit similar offence in future. There are no merits in the Criminal Petition for grant of bail to the petitioners. Hence, the Criminal Petition is liable to be dismissed.

9. Accordingly, the Criminal Peti