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IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA

Cr. MP(M) No. 496 of 2026 Reserved on: 29.4.2026

Date of Decision: 5.5.2026.

Jagpal Singh …. Petitioner Versus

State of HP …. Respondent

Coram Hon’ble Mr Justice Rakesh Kainthla, Judge.

Whether approved for reporting?¹ No.

For the Petitioner : Mr Ravi Tanta, Advocate.

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

Rakesh Kainthla, Judge

The petitioner has filed the present petition seeking

regular bail in FIR No. 138 of 2025, dated 15.8.2025, registered at Police Station Shimla West, District Shimla, H.P., for the commission of an offence punishable under Section 25(1)(a) of

the Arms Act.

2. It has been asserted that the petitioner and co- accused Pradeep Kumar and Gurjit Singh were arrested by the police on 15.8.2025 for the commission of an offence punishable

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

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under Section 25(1)(a) of the Arms Act. The petitioner is in judicial custody. The petitioner is a young person aged 27 years belonging to a respectable family. The investigation is complete, and the charge sheet has been filed before the Court. The charges have been framed, and the matter was listed for the fixation of evidence on 20.4.2025. The police have cited 28 witnesses to prove their case. It would take some time to record the statements of witnesuses, and the continued detention of the petitioner is noto justified. The petitioner had approached this Court by fiCling a bail petition, which was registered as Cr.MP(M) No. 2707 of 2025 and was dismissed on 18.12.2025. FIR No. 90 of 2024, FIR No. 344 of 2022, and FIR No. 14 of 2025 are pending against the petitioner. The petitioner would abide by the terms

Hand conditions that the Court may impose. Hence, it was prayed that the present petition be allowed and the petitioner be released on bail.

3. The petition is opposed by filing separate status reports asserting that the police were on patrolling duty on 15.08.2025. They received secret information at 12:00 p.m. that three persons were selling heroin in the building owned by Babu Ram. A huge quantity of heroin could be recovered by their

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search. The police reduced the information into writing and sent it to the supervisory ofÏcer. The police associated Diwakar Dev Sharma & Mehar Singh Negi and went towards the building. Pradeep Singh, Jagpal Singh (the present petitioner) and Gurjeet Singh were found present in the room. The police searched the room and recovered one pistol and eleven live cartridges. The occupants could not produce a license to possess the pistol. The police seized the puistol and arrested the occupants. The petitioner wouldo intimidate the witnesses in case of his release on bail. ThCe police filed the charge sheet before the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Shimla, on 14.10.2025 and a supplementary charge sheet on 4.3.2026. The matter was listed before the

learned Trial Court on 20.4.2026. Hence, the status report.

4. I have heard Mr Ravi Tanta, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr Lokender Kutlehria, learned Additional

Advocate General for the respondent/State.

5. Mr. Ravi Tanta, learned counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the police have filed the charge sheet before the Court, and the pre-trial detention of the petitioner is not justified. The conclusion of the trial would take considerable

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time, and the petitioner’s continued detention is not justified. The petitioner is a young person and would abide by the terms and conditions that the Court may impose. No fruitful purpose would be served by detaining the petitioner in custody. Hence, he prayed that the present petition be allowed and the petitioner be

released on bail.

6. Mr. Lokender Kutlehria, learned Additio

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