2024:BHC-NAG:6941 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY, NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR CRIMINAL APPLICATION (BA) NO.285/2024 Wasim Akram @ Raja Khan s/o Abdul Kadir Khan ..vs..

State of Maharashtra, through PSO Darwha, Police Station Darwha, Tahsil Darwha, District Yavatmal WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION (BA) NO.1141/2023 Syed Irshad Syed Gaur ..vs..

State of Maharashtra, through PSO, Police Station Darwha, Tahsil and District Yavatmal WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION (BA) NO.1179/2023 Yunus Khan Amir Khan Poswal ..vs..

State of Maharashtra, through PSO, Police Station Darwha, Tahsil and District Yavatmal ...............................................................………………........................................………………………................................……………

Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court orders or directions Court's or Judge's Order and Registrar's orders ...............................................................………………........................................………………………................................……………

BA No.285/2024 Shri S.H.Sudame, Counsel for the Applicant.

Ms.H.N.Prabhu, Additional Public Prosecutor for the Non-applicant/State.

BA Nos.1141 & 1179/2023 Shri S.P.Bhandarkar, Counsel for the Applicant.

Shri M.J.Khan, Additional Public Prosecutor for the Non-applicant/State.

CORAM : URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.

CLOSED ON : 26/06/2024 PRONOUNCED ON : 03/07/2024

COMMON ORDER

1. By these applications, being moved under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, applicants arrested on 18.5.2023 seek regular bail in connection with Crime No.401/2023 registered with the non-applicant police station for offences punishable under Sections 8(b), 8(c), 21(c), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (the NDPS Act).

2. Heard learned counsel Shri S.P.Bhandarkar for applicants (in Criminal Application Nos.1141 and 1179/2023) and learned counsel Shri S.H.Sudame for applicant (in Criminal Application No.285/2024) and learned Additional Public Prosecutors Shri M.J.Khan and Ms.H.N.Prabhu for the State.

3. The accusations against applicants are on the basis of report lodged by Assistant Police Inspector Amol Krushnaji Mude, attached to the Darwha Police Station. As per his report, he received a secret information that contraband article “Mephedrone” is being transported in a white colour “Hyundai Verna Car” bearing registration No.MH-49/B/7082 and the said car is proceeding through “Samruddhi Mahamarg”. He immediately forwarded the said information to his superior i.e. Assistant Superintendent of Police and also Police Inspector, Darwha Police Station. He also called two panchas from the Panchayat Samiti Office at Darwha and also called a jeweller to weigh the contraband article. By carrying the sealing material, police officials proceeded towards spot of incident and intercepted the said car. In the said car, applicants were found. After giving their search and informing rights of applicants, under Section 50 of the NDPS Act, personal search of applicants was carried out. During the search of the said car, a box below dash board was found containing a brown colour envelope, which was opened in presence of panchas, in which “Mephedrone” powder weighing 150 grams was found. The net weight of the said mephedrone powder was 141 grams 600 miligrams. In presence of panchas, samples were obtained. Cash amount was also seized from applicants. It is also mentioned that they have kept provision for obtaining the samples in presence of the Magistrate in view of compliance under Section 52 of the NDPS Act. After a due compliance of the mandatory provision, they arrested applicants.

4. Learned counsel Shri S.P.Bhandarkar, submitted that the mandate of Section 36-A(4) of the NDPS Act is not followed by the prosecution. Incomplete chargesheet is filed without FSL and Inventory Reports. Only the investigating agency filed applications under Section 36-A(4) for extension of time. In fact, it is to be filed through the Public Prose