The court exercises its discretion to grant bail under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita when the investigation is substantially complete, recovery is effected, and the accused lacks criminal antecedents, determining that further custodial detention is unnecessary.

O R D E R

This application is filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, BNSS), seeking regular bail.

2. The applicant is the sole accused in O.R.

No.8/2026 of Narcotics Control Bureau, Cochin Zonal Unit, Ernakulam District. The offences alleged are punishable under Sections 8(c) and 20(b)(ii)(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short, ‘the NDPS Act’).

3. The prosecution case, in short, is that, on

19.04.2026, based on the credible intelligence, NCB officials intercepted the applicant in platform No.3, Ernakulam Junction Railway Station and he was found in possession of 880 grams of charas in contravention of the NDPS Act and thereby committed the aforesaid offences.

4. I have heard Sri. Rameez Nooh, the learned counsel for the applicant and Sri. R.Vinu Raj, the learned Special Public Prosecutor. Perused the case diary.

5. The learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. The counsel further submitted that no materials are on record to connect the applicant with the alleged crime; hence, he is entitled to bail. On the other hand, the learned Special Public Prosecutor submitted that the alleged incident occurred as a part of the intentional criminal acts of the applicant, and he is not entitled to bail at this stage.

6. The applicant was remanded to judicial custody on 19.04.2026. The investigation is almost over. The recovery has been effected. The applicant has no criminal antecedents. For these reasons, I do not find any reason to hold that the continued detention of the applicant is required for any purpose. Hence, the applicant is entitled to be released on bail.

In the result, the application is allowed on the following conditions: -

(i) The applicant shall be released on bail on executing a bond for Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One lakh only) with two solvent sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Magistrate/Court.

(ii) The applicant shall fully co-operate with the investigation.

(iii) The applicant shall appear before the investigating officer between 10.00 a.m and 11.00 a.m. every Saturday until further orders. He shall also appear before the investigating officer as and when required.

(iv) The applicant shall not commit any offence of a like nature while on bail.

(v) The applicant shall not attempt to contact any of the prosecution witnesses, directly or through any other person, or in any other way try to tamper with the evidence or influence any witnesses or other persons related to the investigation.

(vi) The applicant shall not leave the State of Kerala without the permission of the trial Court.

(vii) The application, if any, for deletion/modification of the bail conditions or cancellation of bail on the grounds of violating the bail conditions shall be filed at the jurisdictional court.