IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

234 (2 cases)

Decided on: January 22, 2026

1. CRM-M-18358-2025:

Manpreet Singh s/o Jasmander Singh ......Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ......Respondent

2. CRM-M-26779-2025:

Manpreet Singh s/o Avtar Singh ......Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ......Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH Present: Mr. Parminder Singh Sekhon, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Sumeet S. Brar, Advocate, and Mr. Charnjit Singh, Advocate, (in CRM-M-18358-2025)

Mr. Kanwaljeet Singh Brar, Advocate, (in CRM-M-26779-2025)

for the petitioner(s).

Mr. Vinay Malhotra, DAG, Punjab.

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SANJAY VASHISTH, J.

1. This common order would decide the fate of two petitions, i.e. CRM-M-18358-2025, filed by petitioner – Manpreet Singh s/o Jasmander Singh; and CRM-M-26779-2025, filed by petitioner Manpreet Singh s/o Avtar Singh, which have been filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, seeking grant of regular bail to the petitioner(s) in case FIR No. 87, dated 06.08.2024, under Section 21(c) (offence under Section 29 added later on) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, registered at Police Station Nathana, District Bathinda.

2. As per version of the FIR, when checking of suspicious persons and vehicles in the jurisdiction of Police Station Nathana, was going on, on seeing the police party three occupants sitting in vehicle Make – Verna, bearing registration No. HR-51-AU-4657 tried to reverse the vehicle. The police party intercepted the said vehicle and apprehended the 03 occupants of the vehicle. The vehicle was being driven by petitioner Manpreet Singh s/o Jasmander Singh; petitioner – Manpreet Singh s/o Avtar Singh was sitting on the co-driver’s seat (front passenger seat) and co-accused Harshdeep Singh was seating on the rear seat behind the driver’s seat. It is alleged that recovery of 402 grams of heroin was made from the said car. The contraband was kept in a transparent polythene bag, placed near the gear lever of the car and covered with a towel.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner(s) argues that it will be a debatable issue during trial that out of three accused, who was in conscious possession of the contraband recovered from the vehicle. It is further submitted that the petitioners are aged about 28 years and 33 years. There is no past criminal antecedent against petitioner - Manpreet Singh s/o Jasmander Singh. Petitioner – Manpreet Singh s/o Avtar Singh is involved FIR No. 128 of 2023, under Sections 21B and 29 of the NDPS Act, registered at Police Station Baragudha. However, in the said case the alleged contraband recovered was of non-commercial quantity and he was involved only on the basis of disclosure statement.

Learned counsel also relied upon the order dated

10.09.2025, passed by this Court in CRM-M-49465-2025, whereby concession of regular bail has been extended to the third co-accused, namely, Harshdeep Singh. Both the petitioners are inside jail since 06.08.2024, i.e. for the last 01 year and more than 05 months. There has been no significant progress in the trial.

As per the report received from the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge, Bathinda, vide letter No. 654, dated 20.01.2026, challan in this case was submitted on 24.12.2024 and the accused were served with formal charge under Sections 21(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act on 15.01.2025. There are total 28 prosecution witnesses, and 09 witnesses, including 07 material witnesses, were already examined till 20.01.2026. The prosecution has given up 07 witnesses, and wishes to examine 12 more witnesses. Thus, trial is likely to consume time.

Thus, learned counsel for the petitioners prays for grant of regular bail to the petitioners in the present case.

4. On the other hand, learned State counsel though opposed the prayer for grant of regular bail to the petitioners, but unable to dispute any of the factual assertions made by learned counsel for the petitioners before this Court today. However, he submits that the petitioner