IN THE COURT OF THE XXXIII ADDL.CITY CIVIL & SESSIONS JUDGE & SPL. JUDGE (NDPS), BENGALURU. CCH.33. PRESENT: SMT. B.S. JAYASHREE, LL.M., XXXIII ACC & SJ & SPL.JUDGE (NDPS), BENGALURU. DATED: THIS THE 6 th DAY OF JULY 2022 Crl. Misc.No.6363/2022 petitioners : 1. Goutham Narjari, S/o Mangalasingh (accused No.1 & 2) Narjari, aged about 20 years, r/at Nisubari Village, Chiranga District, Assam
2. Susojoth Basumatari, S/o Philadaas Bosumatari, aged about 25 years, R/at Rangajora, Kungarajora Village, Chiranga District, Assam.
3. Kramadeva Bramha, s/o sharath Bramha, aged about 28 years, R.at Patalamari, Aduguri Village, Chiranga district, Assam. (By Sri. SMA. Adv.
V/S. Respondent : State by Kothanur PS. (By Public Prosecutor) O R D E R The present petition U/Sec.439 of Cr.P.C., is filed by the petitioners to enlarge them on bail, in Cr.No.91/2022 of Kothanur PS., registered for the offence punishable U/Sec.20(B) of NDPS Act.
2. The grounds urged by the petitioners for grant of bail are as under: That the petitioners are innocent and law abiding
citizens. They have not committed any offence much less the offence as alleged. They have been falsely implicated by the respondent in this case. Though the alleged offences are non bailable, but is neither punishable with imprisonment for life or death sentence. The procedure contemplated under N.D.P.S. Act not followed while recovery. The petitioners are permanent residents of the address shown in the cause title. The petitioners are ready and willing to abide by any conditions imposed by this court in the event of grant of bail. They are ready to offer surety for their due appearance before this court. Hence, sought to grant bail.
3. The prosecution while opposing the bail petition
contended that the I.O has seized 2 Kgs.,of ganja. The offences alleged against the petitioners are punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term upto 10 years and shall also be liable to fine. There is a primafacie case available against the petitioners. They are habitual drug dealers. CCH-33 Crl.Misc.No.6363/2022 There is primafacie case made out against petitioners. If petitioners are released on bail, they will continue the profession of narcotic drug selling, and they may abscond and tamper evidence of the prosecution. Hence, sought to reject the bail plea of petitioner.
4. Heard the arguments of both sides and perused the
records.
5. The points that arise for my consideration are as
here under:
1. Whether petitioners have made out sufficient grounds to enlarge them on bail?
2. What order?
6. My findings on the above points are as under:
Point No.1: In the Affirmative Point No.2: As per the final order for the following:
REASONS
7. POINT NO.1:- The police inspector of Kothanur is
the raiding and seizing officer. He has presented the complaint which is registered in Cr. No.91/22 for the offence punishable U/Sec. 20(B) of NDPS Act. The gist of the allegation in the complaint reads that, on 22.06.202 at about 6.45 PM., when the complainant was in police station he has received credible information through an informant that at Patel Muniyappa Layout, Byrathi Cross, Ovan Central Kitchen, Hennur -Bengaluru Main road, three persons were carrying ganja in their bags. On receipt of the information he has informed the matter to the Higher Officer and obtained permission to conduct raid. He along with his staff and panchas went to the spot and found 3 persons moving suspiciously. They were apprehended and on enquiry they revealed that they are residents of Assam. They have revealed their names and addresses. Further they are carrying ganja in their bags. The ganja which is found in the bag of A1 is 1 Kg., A2 is 500 grams and A3 is 500 grams in all 2 Kgs., of ganja. They seized the same under seizure panchanama. A detail report was prepared and submitted before SHO which is the basis to register the case against the accused in Cr.No.91/2022 of Kothanur PS for the offence punishable U/Sec. 20(B) of NDPS Act. Thereafter the accused were arrested and produced before jurisdictional Magistrate and were remanded to JC. CCH-33 Crl.Misc.No.6363/2022
8. It is argued by the learned counsel for petitioners
that they are planted in the case by the complainant police they are unaware of seized drug. The seized article is not commercial quantity. The mandatory provisions of Sec.41, 42, 50, 52 and 47 of the Act are not complied. They are permanent residents of the address given in the cause title. In the event of grant of bail the are ready to abide by the conditions which are being imposed by this court.
9. It is argued by the prosecution that the petitioners
have committed heinous offence 2 Kgs., of ganja is seized from the petitioners. The offence punishable with imprisonment upto 10 years and with fine. There is prima facie material available against them.
10. On careful analysis of rival contentions and the
prosecution papers available on record, it is evident that on 22.06.2022 PI of Kothanur PS., has conducted raid and apprehended the petitioners. On looking to the seizure panchanama the drugs seized is weighing 2 Kgs., of ganja. As per specification of small and commercial quantity of narcotic drug or psychotropic substance issued by Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue Notification S.O.1055(E) dated 19.10.2001 at Sl.No.55 the narcotic drugganja 1000 grams is small quantity and 20 Kgs., is commercial quantity. In this case the quantum of ganja seized is 2 Kgs., of ganja is an intermediate quantity. As per the decision of Hon'ble Apex Court reported in 2018 11 SCC 488 Birbal Prasad Vs., State of Bihar wherein it is held that: Ss.37 and 20 – Bail – grant of – non commercial quantity – quantity involved being only 14 Kgs., of ganja, which is a non commercial quantity appellant accused not involved in any other case – in above circumstances, held, appellant should be released on bail, pending trial – hence, directions issued to release appellant on bail, on certain conditions. The said case law aptly applies to the case on hand in holding that the contraband seized in the case on hand is intermediate quantity and it is not commercial quantity. In the said circumstances, as per the observations of Hon'ble Apex Court the bail plea of accused to be considered.
11. Here in this case the drugs seized by the
investigating agency to the tune of 2 Kgs., of ganja which is an intermediate quantity. When the quantity is less than commercial quantity, rigors of Sec.37 of the NDPS Act will CCH-33 Crl.Misc.No.6363/2022 not attract, and factors become similar to bail petitions under regular statues normal, unless the prosecution points towards exceptional circumstances.
12. The major portion of investigation in the case is
concluded as the incriminatory article is already seized. The offence alleged against the petitioners are not punishable with death or imprisonment for life. Further custodial interrogation is not warranted. Their Voluntary statements is already recorded. As per the information provided by the petitioners they are permanently residing in the addresses shown in the cause title. The apprehension of the prosecution that they may abscond and may protract the trial could be compensated by imposing stringent conditions. In the result, I answer the point for consideration in the affirmative.
13. Point No.2:- In the result, I proceed to pass
following:
ORDER
The Petition filed by the petitioners U/Sec.439 of Cr.P.C is hereby allowed. The petitioners are enlarged on bail on executing personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each with two sureties for the like sum with following conditions.
1. The petitioners shall give attendance before the concerned I.O., once in a month i.e., preferably on first Monday of every month in between 10.00 am., to 2.00 pm., till filing of charge sheet or further orders whichever is earlier.
2. They shall not leave the jurisdiction of this court without prior permission.
3. They shall not tamper the witness or abscond.
4. They shall co-operate with I.O for investigation.
5. They shall not commit similar offence or any offence while on bail.
6. They shall furnish his photo ID proof and local address proof document before the court and photo ID proof of his sureties
7. They shall appear before the court on all hearing dates.
8. Breach of any of the conditions by the petitioners, would entail cancellation of bail.
[Dictated to the stenographer, directly on the computer, typed and computerised by her, corrected, signed and then pronounced by me in Open Court on this the 6th day of July 2022) (B. S. JAYASHREE) XXXIII ACC & SJ & SPL.JUDGE, (NDPS) : BENGALURU.