IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr. MP(M) No. 425 of 2026 Reserved on: 2.4.2026 Date of Decision: 21.4.2026.

Dildar Khan alias Sonu Khan …. Petitioner Versus State of HP …. Respondent Coram Hon’ble Mr Justice Rakesh Kainthla, Judge.

Whether approved for reporting?¹ No.

For the Petitioner : Mr Jagmohan Singh Chandel, Advocate.

For the Respondent/State : Mr Lokender Kutlehria, Additional Advocate General.

Rakesh Kainthla, Judge The petitioner has filed the present petition for seeking regular bail in FIR No. 176 of 2022 dated 16.07.2022, registered in Police Station West, District Shimla, for the commission of an offence punishable under Section 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act).

1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes.

2. It has been asserted that, as per the prosecution, the police checked the HRTC bus on the intervening night of 15/16.07.2022, and recovered one backpack kept on an iron rack near Seat Nos. 12, 13 and 14W containing 333.63 grams of heroin. The police could not find the owner of the backpack and wrongly arrested the petitioner without any reasonable grounds. The petitioner is innocent, and h