IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 12.02.2026 RAJESH CHAWLA ....Petitioner Versus STATE OF PUNJAB ...Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY Present : Ms. Honey Passi, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Ms. Gagandeep Kaur, DAG, Punjab. AMAN CHAUDHARY, J. (ORAL)

1. Prayer in the present petition filed under Section 439 Cr.P.C. is for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.344 dated 13.07.2020, registered under Section 22 of the NDPS Act and later on added Section 25/29 of the NDPS Act and Section 7/13 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 465/467/468/471/120-B IPC, at Police Station City Barnala, District Barnala.

2. Learned counsel contends that the petitioner after being in custody for 7 months and 23 days, was granted interim bail by the Co- ordinate Bench vide order dated 22.05.2025, during the period, he neither misused the concession nor threatened the witnesses. She alleges false implication. Charges stand framed on 13.01.2026, however, none, out of 17 PWs, has been examined and the next date of hearing before the trial Court is 20.02.2026. He has been convicted in another case. Reliance is placed on the judg