JUDGMENT :

PANKAJ MITHAL, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. Heard Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, learned Additional Solicitor General, appearing for the Union of India and Mr. Divyesh Pratap Singh, learned Advocate-on-Record, appearing for the respondent.

3. The appellant-Union of India has preferred this appeal against the final judgment and order dated 17.10.2022 passed by the High Court of judicature at Allahabad, allowing Criminal Miscellaneous Bail Application No. 21330 of 2022 and directing for the release of the respondent-accused Ajay Kumar Singh @ Pappu on bail.

4. The respondent-accused is alleged to be involved in Case No. 687/2021 arising out of Case No. 1/2021 under Sections 8/20/27-A/29/32 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (in short ‘the NDPS Act’) Police Station-D.R.I. Varanasi.

5. The respondent-accused has been directed to be released on bail by the impugned order keeping in mind the larger mandate of Article 21 of the Constitution of India in the light of the decision of this Court passed on 11.07.2022 in Satender Kumar Antil vs. Central Bureau of Investigation and Another, (2022) SCC online SC 825 [SLP (Crl.) No. 5191 of 2021], mainly for the reason that the main