IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH -.-

CRM-M-47895-2025 (O&M) Date of Decision : 07.03.2026 Jashandeep @ Jashanpreet Singh @ Giani ....Petitioner VERSUS State of Punjab ....Respondent CORAM : HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANDEEP PANNU Present: Mr. Ketan Chopra, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Sahil Chowdhary, AAG Punjab.

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MANDEEP PANNU J. (Oral)

1. This is the first petition under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No. 27 dated 06.03.2025, registered under Section 21 (b), 29/61/85 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and Section 25/54/59 of Arms Act and 27- A NDPS Act enhanced vide rapat No.23, dated 08.03.2025, registered at Police Station Sarhali, District Tarn Taran.

2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 06.03.2025, an ASI along with other police officials was on patrol duty in connection with checking of suspicious persons and searching for bad elements. The police party was proceeding from CIA Tarn Taran towards Sheron, Naushehra Pannuan Thathian Mahanta. When the police party reached in front of the office of PSPCL, three suspicious persons were allegedly seen standing there. Upon noticing the police party, they allegedly attempted to turn back. Out of them, one person allegedly took out a polythene packet from the right pocket of his pant and threw it on the side of the kachha road. On suspicion, the police apprehended them and asked their names. The co-accused Lalit Sharma disclosed that the person who had thrown the polythene packet was Jashanpreet Singh @ Giani (present petitioner). The other two persons disclosed their names as Jobanjit Singh @ Joban and Manpreet Singh @ Manna. The said polythene packet was allegedly picked up from the ground and the petitioner allegedly stated that it contained heroin. On search, 200 grams of heroin, a .30 bore loaded pistol, and five live cartridges were allegedly recovered.

On this basis, the present FIR was registered.

3. During investigation, on the disclosure statement of co-accused Jobanjit Singh, Navalpreet Singh and Ramaneet Singh were nominated as co- accused. A Hyundai Aura car and ₹9,00,000/- allegedly constituting drug money were recovered from them. Further, on the disclosure statements of Navalpreet Singh @ Goldy and Ramneet Singh @ Raman, Lalit Sharma was also nominated and ₹20,000/- along with a money counting machine was allegedly recovered from his possession.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is contended that the alleged recovery has been planted and the petitioner was not in conscious possession of the contraband.

It is further submitted that the quantity allegedly recovered is 200 grams of heroin, which falls within the intermediate quantity, and therefore the rigours of Section 37 of the NDPS Act are not attracted. Learned counsel further submits that the petitioner has been in custody since 06.03.2025, the investigation is complete, and the challan has already been presented before the trial Court. It is also argued that the trial is likely to take considerable time to conclude, as there are multiple accused persons and several prosecution witnesses. Learned counsel further argued that co-accused, namely, Lalit Sharma @ Lalit, Manpreet Singh @ Manna, Navalpreet Singh @ Goldi, Ramneet Singh @ Raman and Taufiq Khan @ Bablu have already been granted the concession of regular bail by a co-ordinate Bench of this Court. Thus, it is prayed that the petitioner may be granted the concession of regular bail.

5. Per contra, learned State counsel has filed the custody certificate, which is taken on record. Learned State counsel opposes the prayer for grant of regular bail to the petitioner and submits that the allegations levelled against the petitioner are serious in nature as they relate to offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 as well