ITEM NO.63 COURT NO.3 SECTION II-C S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.)

No. 19813/2025 [Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 13-11-2025 in CRMPM No. 1868/2025 passed by the High Court of Himachal Pradesh at Shimla]

ROHIT KUMAR Petitioner(s)

VERSUS STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH Respondent(s)

Date : 10-03-2026 This petition was called on for hearing today.

CORAM :

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE J.K. MAHESHWARI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ATUL S. CHANDURKAR For Petitioner(s) :

Mr. Ajay Marwah, AOR Mr. Swaroopand Mishra, Adv.

Mr. Mrigank Bhardwaj, Adv.

Ms. Dhriti Sharma, Adv.

Mr. Rahul Kumar, Adv.

For Respondent(s) :

Ms. Inderdeep Kaur Rana, Adv.

Ms. Tamanna Kavdia, Adv. UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following NIDHI AHUJA Date: 2026.03.11 Reason:

O R D E R

1) Against the order of rejection of regular bail by the High Court and to seek bail, the present special leave petition has been filed. The petitioner is in custody w.e.f. 01.02.2023 in connection with FIR No.36/2023 dated 01.02.2023 for the offences punishable under Sections 21, 22 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and Sections 181, 184, 192 and 196 of the Motor Vehicles Act, registered with Police Station Nurpur, District Kangra, H.P.

2) After hearing learned counsel for the parties and taking note of the period of custody already undergone which is more than three years and that since the date of framing of charges, i.e., 23.01.2025, only 7 out of 50 witnesses have been examined, however, the trial may take some time to conclude; considering all the facts and circumstances of the case, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, we deem it appropriate to release the petitioner on bail.

3) Accordingly, we direct to release the petitioner on bail on furnishing the suitable bail bonds and sureties and on such other terms and conditions as may be deemed fit by the trial Court.

4) Petitioner to abide all the conditions as imposed and shall regularly attend the trial until exempted by the Court. Violation, if any, may give a cause to take recourse as permissible and the trial Court is at liberty to do the needful.

5) The petitioner is directed to surrender his passport to the Court and shall not leave India without prior permission of the Court.

6) Accordingly, and in view of the foregoing, the special leave petition stands allowed. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.

(NIDHI AHUJA) (NAND KISHOR)

DEPUTY REGISTRAR ASSISTANT REGISTRAR