IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr. MP(M) No. 393 of 2026 Reserved on: 7.4.2026 Date of Decision: 22.4.2026.

Ajay Kumar …. Petitioner Versus State of HP …. Respondent Coram Hon’ble Mr Justice Rakesh Kainthla, Judge.

Whether approved for reporting?¹ No.

For the Petitioner : M/s Rakesh Kumar Chaudhary and Panku Chaudhary, h Advocates.

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. 71 of 2024, dated 5.11.2024, registered at Police Station Swarghat, District Bilaspur, H.P., for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 20 and 29 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (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 prosecutio.n, the police stopped a vehicle bearing registration No. HP-01K-9360, coming from Bilaspur at Karmala NH-21 onH 4.11.2024 at about 10:30 PM. The petitioner was driving the vehicle. He got perplexed after seeing the police. The police joined independent witnesses and recovered a light-yellow carry bag containing