J U D G M E N T

1. By way of the present application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 [“BNSS”], the applicant seeks regular bail in connection with NCB Crime No. VIII/09/DZU/2024, registered under Sections 8(c)/18(b)/29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 [“the NDPS Act”].

2. I have heard Mr. Pramod Kumar, learned counsel for the applicant, and Mr. Arun Khatri, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the respondent – Narcotics Control Bureau. The prosecution has placed on record a status report dated 24.02.2026.

A. PROSECUTION CASE

3. The prosecution case, as it emerges from the material on record, is as follows:

a. On the basis of secret information received on 23.04.2024, two persons, being the applicant herein and a Child in Conflict with Law [“CCL”], were apprehended at 10:05 AM upon their arrival in Delhi. They were travelling on West Bengal Sampark Kranti Express [Train No. 12329], from Gaya, Bihar to Anand Vihar, Delhi.

b. The applicant was in possession of a maroon-coloured backpack. Upon searching the bag, a pink-and-white coloured bag containing four transparent polythene packets were recovered, each containing a blackish-bro