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 20 th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2022 Crl. Misc.No.8963/2022 Petitioners : 1. Pradeep.S.M, S/o.Mallu, (accused Nos.1& 2) A/a 31 years, r/at C/o Kamalamma’s House, 3rd Cross, Singyyana Palya, Mahadevapura, Bengaluru -560048.

2. Prasanna.S.M, S/o.Mallu, A/a 31 years, r/at C/o Kamalamma’s House, 3rd Cross, Singyyana Palya, Mahadevapura, Bengaluru -560048.

(By Sri M.M.R., Adv.) V/S. Respondent : State by Ramamurthynagar Police Station., Bangalore. (By Public Prosecutor) O R D E R This is the second bail petition U/Sec.439 of Cr.P.C., filed by the petitioners to enlarge them on bail, in Cr. No.333/2022 of SHO Ramamurthynagar Police Station registered for the offences punishable U/Section 22(c) and 20B of N.D.P.S. Act,

2. The grounds urged by the petitioners for grant of bail

are as under: That the petitioners are very innocent and law abiding citizen. They have not committed any offence much less the offences as alleged. They are falsely implicated by the respondent in this case. Though the alleged offence is 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 12 Grams of MDMA and 500 CCH-33 Crl.Misc.No.8963/2022 Grams of Ganja from the possession of the accused persons. The offence alleged against the petitioners are punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 10 years which may extent to 20 years and shall also be liable to fine. There is a primafacie case available against the petitioners. they are habitual drug peddlers. If the 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 petitioners.

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 Negative Point No.2: As per the final order for the following:

REASONS

7. POINT NO.1:- The gist of the allegation reads as here

under:- On 2.9.2022 at 8.00 pm., when the complainant PSI was discharging duties in the station e has credible information that at KR Puram Railway station, Kasturi nagar, near the compound two persons holding plastic covers and were trying to sell contraband to the public to gain money illegally. Immediately he has informed the matter to DCP and ACP of Banaswadi sub division obtained permission to conduct raid. He has called the panchas to the station requested them to be present at the time of raid. He along with staff and panchas, laptop, portable printer, electronic weighing machine and investigation tools been to the spot at 8.40 pm., and mounted surveillance. Two persons carrying bags came there and were trying to sell articles to the public. they were surrounded and apprehended on enquiry they have revealed their names as Pradeep and Prasana they have further informed that they have purchased ganja and MDMA. They have paid Rs.15000/- for 1 kg., of ganja and Rs.2000/- for 1 gram of MDMA. The CCH-33 Crl.Misc.No.8963/2022 complainant has called the ACP to the spot to conduct personal search. During personal search of accused Nos.1 and 2, cash of Rs.500/- was found and seized and in the plastic cover which was in the hand of accused No.1-12 Grams of MDMA was found and seized. In the bag of accused No.2500 Grams of Ganja was found and seized. A detail mahazar was drawn in the spot. Basing on the said report, he has registered a complaint in Cr.No.333/2022 for the offences punishable U/.22(c) and 20BB (d) of N.D.P.S. Act. Accused were produced before the court and were remanded to JC.

8. It is vehemently argued by the learned counsel for the

petitioners that petitioners are falsely implicated in the above case. The quantity seized from the possession of the accused is less than commercial quantity. The major portion of investigation is concluded. Custodial interrogation is not warranted. They are entitled for bail.

9. The prosecution contends that under panchanama

commercial quantity of contraband is seized. The allegation of petitioners that they were not arrested from the place of incident as urged in the investigation papers is untenable. Accused were in conscious possession of contraband. The offence alleged against them is punishable with imprisonment upto 20 years and fine. They are not entitled for bail at this stage when the investigation is in progress.

10. On looking to the prosecution papers the quantum

of narcotic substance seized 12 grams of MDMA and 500 grams 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.134 the narcotic drug – MDMA weighing 0.5 grams is small quantity and 10 grams is a commercial quantity. In the present case MDMA seized is weighing 12 grams which is a commercial quantity. The petitioners herein were apprehended with commercial quantum of contraband.

11. The NDPS Act provides deterrent punishment for

various offences relating to illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. At this stage, it is necessary for CCH-33 Crl.Misc.No.8963/2022 me to refer to the judgment of Hon'ble Apex Court in Crl. Appeal No.1043/2021 dated 22.9.2021 in the case Union of India through NCB., Lucknow Vs., Mohammed Nawaz Khan wherein the NCB., Lucknow has challenged the order of grant of bail to the accused by the Hon'ble High Court of Allahabad, Lucknow Bench. In the said case the Hon'ble Apex Court pleased to make a detail discussion on the criteria to be considered for grant of bail when the accused is prosecuted under the provisions of NDPS Act. At para­20 of the judgment the Hon'ble Apex Court pleased to note that “the High Court and this court are required to apply while granting bail is whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that the accused has not committed an offence and whether he is likely to commit any offence while on bail. Given the seriousness of offences punishable under the NDPS Act and in order to curb the menace of drug­trafficking in the country, stringent parameters for the grant of bail under the NDPS Act have been prescribed. In the present case, the High Court while granting bail to the respondent adverted to two circumstances, namely (i) absence of recovery of the contraband from the possession of the respondent and (ii) the wrong name in the endorsement of translation of the statement under Section 67 of the NDPS Act. As regards to the finding of Hon'ble High Court regarding absence of recovery of the contraband from the possession of the respondent, we note that in Union of India v. Rattan Mallik, a two­judge Bench of this Court cancelled the bail of an accused and reversed the finding of the High Court, which had held that as the contraband (heroin) was recovered from a specially made cavity above the cabin of a truck, no contraband was found in the ‘possession’ of the accused. The Court observed that merely making a finding on the possession of the contraband did not fulfill the parameters of Section 37(1)(b) and there was non­ application of mind by the High Court. In line with the decision of this Court in Rattan Mallik (supra), we are of the view that a finding of the absence of possession of the contraband on the person of the respondent by the High Court in the impugned order does not absolve it of the level of scrutiny required under Section 37(1)(b)(ii) of the NDPS Act.” Further in regard to non compliance of the procedure laid U/s.42 of NDPS Act, it is held by the Hon'ble Apex Court that it is a question of fact. Further, at Para­30 the Hon'ble Apex Court pleased to make the following essential elements ought to have been considered by the Hon'ble High Court of Lucknow. (i) The respondent was traveling in the vehicle all the way from Dimapur in Nagaland to Rampur in Uttar Pradesh with the co­accused; (ii) The complaint notes that the CDR analysis of the mobile number used by the respondent indicates that the respondent was in regular touch with the other accused persons who were known to him; (iii) The quantity of contraband found in the vehicle is of a commercial quantity; and CCH-33 Crl.Misc.No.8963/2022 (iv) The contraband was concealed in the vehicle in which the respondent was traveling with the co­ accused. By making a detail observation in granting the bail to the accused is incorrect and has set aside the impugned order. The aforesaid recent judgment of Hon'ble Apex Court clearly highlights on the aspect that what are all the circumstances to be considered and has to be evaluated by the court to consider the bail plea of the accused. In the recent judgment of Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of State of Kerala Vs., Rajesh in (2020) 12 SCC 122 it is observed that “reasonable grounds” means something more than primafacie grounds. It contemplates substantial probable causes for believing that the accused is not guilty of the alleged offence. The reasonable belief contemplated in the provision requires existence of such facts and circumstances as are sufficient in themselves to justify satisfaction that the accused is not guilty of the alleged offence. In the case on hand, the High Court seems to have completely overlooked the underlying object of Section 37 that in addition to the limitations provided under the CrPC, or any other law for the time being in force, regulating the grant of bail, its liberal approach in the matter of bail under the NDPS Act is indeed uncalled for. Further in the judgment of Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of State of MP Vs., Kajad reported in 2001 (7) SCC 673 has held that : "5. ………….. Negation of bail is the rule and its grant an exception under sub­clause (ii) of clause (b) of Section 37(1). For granting the bail the court must, on the basis of the record produced before it, be satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the petitioners are not guilty of the offences with which they are charged and further that they are not likely to commit any offence while on bail. It has further to be noticed that the conditions for granting the bail, specified in clause (b) of sub­section (1) of Section 37 are in addition to the limitations provided under the Code of Criminal Procedure or any other law for the time being in force regulating the grant of bail. Liberal approach in the matter of bail under the Act is uncalled for.” In the dictum of Babua Vs., state of Orissa reported in 2001(2)SCC 566 the Hon'ble Apex Court has held that:­ "3. In view of Section 37(1)(b) of the Act unless there are reasonable grounds for believing that the petitioners are not guilty of such offence and that they are not likely to commit any offence while on bail alone will entitle them to a bail. In the present case, the petitioners attempted to secure bail on various grounds but failed. But those reasons would be insignificant if we bear in mind the scope of Section 37(1)(b) of the Act. At this stage of the case all that could be seen is whether the statements made on behalf of the prosecution witnesses, if believable, would result in conviction of the petitioners or not. At this juncture, we cannot say that the petitioners are not guilty of the offence if the allegations made in the charge are established. Nor can we say that the evidence having not been completely adduced before the CCH-33 Crl.Misc.No.8963/2022 Court that there are no grounds to hold that they are not guilty of such offence. The other aspect to be borne in mind is that the liberty of a citizen has got to be balanced with the interest of the society. In cases where narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are involved, the petitioners would indulge in activities which are lethal to the society. Therefore, it would certainly be in the interest of the society to keep such persons behind bars during the pendency of the proceedings before the court, and the validity of Section 37(1)(b) having been upheld, we cannot take any other view." As per the enunciation of law in the afore said dictums it is clear that no person shall be granted bail unless the two conditions are satisfied, i.e., the satisfaction of the court that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the petitioners are not guilty and that they are not likely to commit any offence while on bail. Here in the present case the petitioners were apprehended and 12 Grams of MDMA and 500 Grams Ganja was seized from the present petitioners. In the result, I proceed to hold that the petitioners herein have not made out any grounds to entertain their plea for bail. Accordingly, I answer point No.1 in the negative.

12. 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 rejected. [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 20th day of September 2022] (B. S. JAYASHREE) XXXIII ACC & SJ & SPL.JUDGE, (NDPS) : BENGALURU. CN/*