Statements of co-accused under Section 67 of the NDPS Act are inadmissible against other accused, reinforcing the importance of direct evidence in narcotics cases.

 1) Heard Mr. H. R. A. Choudhury, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. K. Baishya, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State respondent.

2) This anticipatory bail application has been preferred under Section 438 Page No.# 1/4 GAHC010033292024 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : AB/427/2024 ALI AMJOD @ ALI AJMOL S/O MD. MOYUB ALI VILL- KALKALIBASTI, P.S. PATHARKANDI P.S. AND DIST. KARIMGANJ, ASSAM VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM REP BY THE PP, ASSAM Advocate for the Petitioner : MR H R CHOUDHURY Advocate for the Respondent : PP, ASSAM BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MRIDUL KUMAR KALITA ORDER Date : 15.05.2024 1) Heard Mr. H. R. A. Choudhury, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. K. Baishya, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State respondent.

2) This anticipatory bail application has been preferred under Section 438 Page No.# 2/4 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, by the present petitioner, namely, Ali Amjod @ Ali Ajmol, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Special Case No. 35/2023 arising out of Bazaricherra P. S. Case No. 86/2023 under Sections 20(b)(ii)(C)/25/29 of the NDPS Act, 1985.

3) The gist of the accusation in this case is that on 12.04.2023, one Asish Mohanta, S.I. of police had filed an FIR before the Officer-In-Charge of Bazaricherra Police Station, inter-alia, alleging that on receiving information through reliable sources regarding movement of some illegal contraband (ganja), a search operation was conducted at Kurti village near the Kurti bridge on National Highway No. 208A and during naka checking operation, one Bajaj auto rickshaw bearing Registration No. AS 10 AC 8213 was intercepted and was searched. During search of the said vehicle, 41 packets of ganja weighing about

191.005 kgs were recovered from the possession of one Ruyel Uddin @ Jahir Uddin. On receipt of the said FIR, Bazaricherra P. S. Case No. 86/2023 was registered.

4) Later on, investigation was initiated and after completion of investigation, charge sheet was laid against the three persons, including the present petitioner, who was shown as an absconder in the charge sheet. The learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that nothing was seized from the possession of the present petitioner and the only allegation against the present petitioner is that during interrogation of the apprehended accused persons, the name of the present petitioner was revealed.

5) The learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner is innocent and in no manner involved in the offence alleged in this case.

6) The learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that in view of the ruling of the Apex Court in the case of “Tofan Singh Vs. State of Tamil Nadu”

Page No.# 3/4 reported in (2021) 4 SCC 1, the statement of the co-accused made under Section 67 of the NDPS Act, 1985 cannot be used against the other accused.

7) It is also submitted by learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the trial court has issued non-bailable warrant of arrest against the present petitioner on 12.04.2024 and has fixed the next date of appearance on 15.06.2024 and he apprehends that he may be arrested at any moment.

8) The learned counsel for the petitioner has also submitted that the petitioner is ready to face trial and therefore, he may be allowed to go on bail.

9) On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor has submitted that from scanned copy of the case record of Special Case No. 35/2023, it appears that the trial court had issued at the first instance only summons against the present petitioner and it is only when the petitioner failed to appear before the trial court after receiving the summons, the trial court had issued non-bailable warrant of arrest.

10) I have considered the submissions made by learned counsel for both the sides and also perused the material available on record.

11) Though, it is no res-integra after the judgm