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 19 th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2022
Crl.Misc.No.8988/2022
Petitioner :
(accused )
Ravinder Sharan
s/o.Munna Sharan,
a/a 27 years,
No.1082/1, Kalyan Nagar,
T.Dasarahalli, Bengaluru-560057
(By Sri R.R.Adv.)
V/S.
Respondent :
State by Excise PS Devanahalli Range
(By Public Prosecutor)
O R DE R
The present petition U/Sec.439 of Cr.P.C., is filed by the
petitioner to enlarge him on bail, in Cr.No.16/2022 of Excise
PS Devanahalli Range., registered for the offence punishable
U/Sec. 17(a), 25, 8(c) of NDPS Act.
2
2. The grounds urged by the petitioner for grant of bail
are as under:
That the petitioner is very innocent and law abiding
citizen.
He has not committed any offence much less the
offence as alleged. He has no knowledge of alleged crime and
falsely implanted at the instance of extraneous elements. The
mandatory provisions U/s.50 of NDPS Act has not been
complied.
There are no eye witnesses who speak about the
sale of alleged contraband. Though the alleged offence is non
bailable, but is neither punishable with imprisonment for life
or death sentence. The petitioner is ready and willing to abide
by any conditions imposed by this court in the event of grant
of bail.
He is ready to offer surety for his due appearance
before this court. He has no bad antecedents. He is the sole
bread earner of his family. Hence, sought to grant bail.
3. The objection raised by the prosecution is that the
investigating agency has in all seized 114 grams of Opium from
the possession of the accused. The accused is found to be in
possession of narcotic substance.
A detailed mahazar is
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Crl.Misc.No.8988/2022
3
drawn in the spot. Personal search is conducted. The offence
alleged against the petitioner is punishable with rigorous
imprisonment for a term which shall extend upto 10 years.
There is a primafacie case available against the petitioner. He
is an habitual drug dealer.
In the event of grant of bail, he
would abscond and may hamper the investigation. 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 petitioner has made out
sufficient grounds to enlarge him 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:
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REASONS
7. POINT NO.1:- A report submitted by PSI, ., who is the
complainant in this case before the Excise PS Devanahalli
Range. The contents of the report is as here under:On 26.08.2022 at about 3.00 pm., when the complainant
was on patrolling duty along with staff he has received credible
information that in a royal Enfield bullet 350 bearing No.KA 02
KL 7207 in front of Tippu Hotel, by pass junction BB road, one
person is carrying contraband and if a surveillance is mounted
there he would be apprehended. He has informed the matter
to Dy.SP Excise, Hosakote obtained search authorisation to
conduct raid. He has been to the spot around 3.50 pm., along
with panchas and staff.
They have mounted surveillance in
the spot. Around 5.15 pm., one person came in a Bullet bike
bearing KA 02 KL 7207.
when his vehicle was stopped and
enquired he has stated his name as Ravinder Sharan. In the
tool box of the bike a cover was found.
When he was
questioned about the said cover he has stated that he is
carrying opium. In the presence of panchas the vehicle was
inspected.
The said contraband opium, was seized it was
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Crl.Misc.No.8988/2022
weighing 114 grams. A mahazar was drawn at the spot. He
has prepared a report and registered a case in Cr.16/2022 is
registered for the offence punishable U/s.17(a), 25, 8(c) of
NDPS Act.
Thereafter accused was arrested and produced
before jurisdictional Magistrate and remanded to judicial
custody.
8. It is argued by the learned counsel for petitioner that
he is planted in the case by the complainant police he is
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. He is permanent residents of
the address given in the cause title. In the event of grant of
bail he is ready to abide by the conditions which are being
imposed by this court.
9. It is argued by the prosecution that the petitioner has
committed heinous offence 114 grams of
Opium
is seized
from the petitioner and other accused. The offence punishable
with imprisonment upto 10 years and with fine.
primafacie material available against them.
There are
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10.
On careful analysis of rival contentions and the
prosecution papers available on record, it is evident that on
26.8.2022 complainant has conducted raid and apprehended
accused.
On looking to the seizure panchanama the drugs
seized from accused is weighing 114grams of Opium. 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.92 the narcotic drugOpium 25 grams is
small quantity and 2.5 Kgs., is commercial quantity. In this
case the quantum of Opium seized is 114 grams which 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 Opium, 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
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Crl.Misc.No.8988/2022
7
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
114 grams of Opium
intermediate
When
quantity.
the
quantity
which is an
is
less
than
commercial quantity, rigors of Sec.37 of the NDPS Act will 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 from
accused.
The offence alleged against the petitioner is not
punishable with death or imprisonment for life.
custodial
interrogation
is
not
warranted.
His
Further
Voluntary
statement is already recorded. As per the information provided
by the petitioner he is permanently residing in the address
shown in the cause title. The apprehension of the prosecution
that he may abscond and may protract the trial could be
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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 petitioner U/Sec.439 of
Cr.P.C is hereby allowed.
The petitioner is enlarged on bail on executing
personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two
sureties for the like sum with following conditions.
1.
The petitioner 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.
He shall not leave the jurisdiction of this
court without prior permission.
3.
He shall not tamper the witness or abscond.
4.
He
shall
co-operate
investigation.
5.
He shall not commit similar offence or
any offence while on bail.
6.
He shall furnish his photo ID proof and
local address proof document before the
court and photo ID proof of his sureties.
with
I.O
for
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Crl.Misc.No.8988/2022
7.
He shall appear before the court on all
hearing dates.
8.
Breach of any of the conditions by the
petitioner 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 19th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2022)
(B. S. JAYASHREE)
XXXIII ACC & SJ & SPL.JUDGE,
(NDPS) : BENGALURU.