ITEM NO.7 COURT NO.3 SECTION II-E 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(s). 20071/2025 [Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 07-11-2025 in CRLMA No. 14422/2025 passed by the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad]

ALPESHBHAI RAMANLAL PRAJAPATI Petitioner(s)

VERSUS THE STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR. Respondent(s) Date : 23-02-2026 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. Somesh Chandra Jha, AOR Mr. A.S. Tmbalia, Adv.

For Respondent(s) : Mr. S.D. Sanjay, ASG Mr. Akshat Agarwal, Adv. Mr. Diwakar Sharma, Adv.

Ms. Mili Baxi, Adv.

Ms. Swati Ghildiyal, AOR Ms. Akanksha Raj, Adv.

Ms. Soumya Sharan, Adv.

Mr. Arvind Kumar Sharma, Adv.

UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by Gulshan Kumar Arora Date: 2026.02.23 Reason:

1. Against an order rejecting the 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. 30.05.2023 in connection with Complaint Case No. NCB/AZU/CR-08/2023 registered by the Intelligence Officer, Narcotics Control Bureau, Ahmedabad Zonal Unit for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c), 21(c) read with Section 29 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

2. After hearing learned counsel for the parties, we find that charges have been framed on 21.02.2025 and by this time, only three witnesses out of 26 witnesses have been examined. Considering the period of incarceration which is about two years and eight months and possibility of delay in concluding the trial, we deem it appropriate to release the petitioner on bail.

3. Accordingly, we direct that the petitioner be released 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. Accordingly and in view of the foregoing, the special leave petition stands disposed of.

6. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.

(GULSHAN KUMAR ARORA) (NAND KISHOR)

DEPUTY REGISTRAR ASSISTANT REGISTRAR