IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Satnam Singh ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ...Respondent Sr. No. Particulars Details 1 The date when the judgment is reserved 23.04.2026 2 The date when the judgment is pronounced 27.04.2026 3 The date when the judgment is uploaded on the website 27.04.2026 Whether only operative part of the judgment is pronounced or full

4 Full judgment is pronounced The delay, if any, of the pronouncement of full judgment, and Not

5 reasons thereof applicable CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANISHA BATRA Present:- Mr. Vipul Jindal, Advocate for the petitioner.

Ms. Sakshi Bakshi, AAG, Punjab.

MANISHA BATRA, J.

1. Prayer in this petition, filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, is for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case bearing FIR No. 34 dated 10.06.2024, registered under Sections 21, 25 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short ‘NDPS Act’) and Section 25 of the Arms Act, 1959 at Police Station State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar.

2. Brief facts of the case relevant for the disposal of the present petition are that on 10.06.2024, on the basis of a secret information, co-

accused Gursahib Singh and Sajan Singh, while coming in a car bearing registration number PB-02-AZ-8550, were apprehended by a police party headed by Inspector Inderdeep Singh and recovery of 7.5 kgs. of heroin and 16 live cartridges of .30 bore was effected from them. They were formally arrested at spot. During the course of investigation, some other persons including petitioner Satnam Singh were also nominated. The petitioner was arrested in this case on 11.06.2024 and recovery of 500 grams of heroin and a pistol of .30 bore loaded with 10 live cartridges was effected from him. On interrogation, he disclosed that he used to receive consignments of heroin and arms/ammunition from co-accused Gursahib Singh and other unidentified persons and as per directions of Rajwinder Singh @ Raju, he used to deliver the said consignments to one Jagmohan Singh @ Jagga and Sukhwinder Singh. On the basis of the same, the abovenamed persons were also nominated in this case and subsequently arrested. After completion of necessary investigation and usual formalities, challan was presented in the Court and presently, the petitioner along with the co-accused is facing trial for commission of aforesaid mentioned offences.

3. It is argued by learned counsel for the petitioner that he has been falsely implicated in this case. A false recovery was planted upon him. He is in custody since 11.06.2024. Investigation has since been completed and challan has been filed. Conclusion of trial is likely to take time as only 02 out of total 25 prosecution witnesses have been examined so far. His prolonged detention entitles him to seek bail. No useful purpose would be served by keeping him in custody anymore. His involvement in other cases cannot be made a ground for denying him the benefit of bail in the given circumstances. Therefore, it is urged that the petition deserves to be allowed and the petitioner deserves to be granted benefit of regular bail.

4. Status report and the custody certificate have been filed by the respondent-State. Learned State counsel has argued that keeping in view the gravity of the allegations levelled against the petitioner, his criminal antecedents as well as the fact that commercial quantity of the contraband was recovered from him, he is not entitled to get benefit of bail as rigors of Section 37 of the NDPS Act would be attracted against him. The petitioner may abscond or involve in committing similar offences again, if extended benefit of bail. Hence, it is urged that the petition is liable to be dismissed.

5. This Court has heard the rival submissions.

6. As per the allegations, the petitioner was firstly nominated by the abovenamed co-accused as their accomplice and subsequently, on his arrest, recovery of 500 grams of heroin was effected from him. Though, the al