IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-282-2026 (O&M) Date of decision: 23.02.2026 RAJU SINGH @ RAJU BRAR ….Petitioner Versus STATE OF PUNJAB ....Respondent CORAM:- HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL Present:- Mr. Karandeep Singh Sidhu, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Ravinder Singh, DAG Punjab.

..…

RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL, J. (ORAL)

CRM-8127-2026 Keeping in view the averments made in the application, the document is taken on record as Annexures P-12 subject to all just exceptions.

Exemption is granted as prayed for.

Registry to tag the same at appropriate place.

Disposed of.

CRM-3241-2026 Keeping in view the averments made in the application, the documents are taken on record as Annexures P-4 to P-11 subject to all just exceptions. Exemption is granted as prayed for.

Registry to tag the same at appropriate place.

Disposed of. Main Order

1. Prayer in the present petition filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.134 dated 29.07.2025 registered under Section 21(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (Section 29 of the NDPS Act added later on) at Police Sadar Sri Muktsar Sahib, District Sri Muktsar Sahib. 2. Brief facts of the present case as per the prosecution are that on 29.07.2025, ASI Harpinder Singh, along with his fellow police officials was on a patrolling duty and the basis of suspicion apprehended Rinku Singh, Avtar Singh @ Labha Baba and Mahir @ Meet who were found in conscious possession of 700 grams of Heroin. During investigation bank account statement of the co-accused Rinku Singh was verified wherein large money transactions related to selling of Heroin took place between him and the petitioner.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case. He further contends that neither the petitioner was named in the FIR nor has any concern with the said offence. No recovery is to be effected from the petitioner. Learned counsel has further submitted that the petitioner is ready and willing to join the investigation as and when called upon to do so by the investigating agency.

4. After registration of the FIR, investigation has been initiated and is under way. Apprehending his arrest, the petitioner had moved an application for grant of anticipatory bail which has been dismissed by learned Judge, Special Court-I, Sri Muktsar Sahib, vide order dated 22.12.2025.

5. On the other hand, learned State counsel has already filed the status report and while relying to the same, has opposed the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail, by submitting that the allegations levelled against the petitioner are serious in nature. He argued that commercial quantity of Heroin has been recovered from co-accused persons and role of the petitioner is that he is the supplier of the recovered contraband and there are bank transactions of the petitioner and co-accused Rinku Singh wherein huge money transactions have taken place after selling of the Heroin. He further argued that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is required to enquire about his role in the drug nexus. Hence, he prays for dismissal of the petition.

6. Heard.

7. In the present case, the allegations against the petitioner are serious in nature. As per the prosecution, the contraband i.e. Heroin which was recovered from co-accused persons was supplied to them by the petitioner. Moreover, there are bank transactions between the petitioner and co-accused Rinku Singh, brother of the petitioner connecting the petitioner to the co-accused. The present petitioner is also alleged to be member of drug nexus and in order to crack the same his custodial interrogation is required.

8. Considering the gravity of the allegations, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner is required for fair and effective investigation in the matter.

9. It is befitting to mention here that while considering a plea for grant of anticipatory bail, t