logo

This Product is Licensed to ,

Change Font Style & Size  Show / Hide
24

  •            

 
CDJ 2026 SC 499 print Preview print print
Court : Supreme Court of India
Case No : Criminal Appeal No. of 2026 (Arising out of SLP(Crl.) No. 2505 of 2026)
Judges: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K. VINOD CHANDRAN
Parties : Ramesh Singh Versus The State of Haryana
Appearing Advocates : For the Petitioner: ------ For the Respondent: ------
Date of Judgment : 20-03-2026
Head Note :-
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 - Sections 15(b) and 29 -
Judgment :-

1. Leave granted.

2. The appellant, Ramesh Singh, is aggrieved by the denial of anticipatory bail by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh, vide order dated 23.01.2026 passed in CRM-M No. 2233/2026, in relation to First Information Report (FIR) No. 322 dated 20.08.2025 registered with Police Station - City Fatehabad, District -Fatehabad, Haryana, for the offences punishable under Sections 15(b) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985["NDPS Act", for short] (Sections 27A of the NDPS Act added later on).

3. By order dated 13.02.2026, this Court granted protection from arrest to the appellant, Ramesh Singh, in relation to the aforestated FIR, subject to the condition that he joins and cooperates with the investigation.

4. A counter affidavit/reply has been filed by the State of Haryana, wherein it is conceded that pursuant to the aforestated order dated 13.02.2026, the appellant has joined the investigation and also made a disclosure statement. However, it appears that no tangible material has been recovered pursuant to such disclosure statement. Further, the appellant was not named initially.

5. In these circumstances, we find no grounds made out for custodial interrogation of the appellant at this stage.

6. The appeal is, accordingly, allowed, setting aside the impugned judgment/order. It is directed that, in the event the appellant, Ramesh Singh, is arrested in connection with the FIR in question, he shall be released on bail forthwith on such appropriate terms and conditions as may be fixed by the Special Court.

7. The appellant, Ramesh Singh, shall abide by the conditions stipulated in Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and shall cooperate to cooperate with the investigation and thereafter, during the course of the trial, if any.

8. We clarify that we have not made any observations/comments on the merits of the case and any observation made in this order is meant only for the limited purpose of grant of anticipatory bail.

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