Ibraheem vs State Of Rajasthan on 14 July, 2026

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    Rajasthan High Court – Jodhpur

    Ibraheem vs State Of Rajasthan on 14 July, 2026

    [2026:RJ-JP:30919]
    
            HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN
                           AT JODHPUR
    
         S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous Bail Application No. 14311/2025
                          CNR: RJHC011077442025
                         URN: CRLMB / 29809U / 2025
    
    Ibraheem S/o Kameer Khan, Aged About 38 Years, R/o 10 Kld
    Kundal P S Khajuwala District Bikaner Rajasthan.
    (At Present Lodged In Dist. Jail Pratapgarh)
                                                                       ----Petitioner
                                        Versus
    State Of Rajasthan, Through PP
                                                                     ----Respondent
    
    
    For Petitioner(s)         :     Mr. RDSS Kharlia
    For Respondent(s)         :     Mr. Surendra Bishnoi, PP
    
    
    
                  HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP SHAH

    Judgment

    Reportable

    SPONSORED

    1. Date of conclusion of arguments 10.07.2026

    2. Date on which judgment was reserved 10.07.2026

    3. Whether the full judgment or only the operative part is
    pronounced: Full Judgment

    4. Date of pronouncement 14.07.2026

    1. The applicant has filed the present bail application under

    Section 483 of BNSS being aggrieved against the order dated

    03.04.2025 passed by the learned Special Judge, NDPS Cases,

    District Pratapgarh, in Bail Application No.122/2025, whereby the

    bail application filed by the accused-applicant under Section 483

    of B.N.S.S. was rejected. The accused-applicant is behind the

    bars, pursuant to the F.I.R. No.260/2024 registered at Police

    Station Chotisadri, District Pratapgarh, for the offences punishable

    under Sections 8/15, 18 & 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985.

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    2. Brief facts of the case are that, during the course of routine

    patrolling (and not on the basis of any prior information) on

    29.09.2024, the police officials noticed a truck/trailer bearing

    registration No. RJ-07-GE-9786 standing near a temple, and one

    person was found standing near the axle and tyres of the vehicle.

    On seeing the police officials, the said person attempted to

    conceal himself, which created a suspicion in the minds of the

    police officials. The police officials reached the spot and thereafter

    asked the said person, i.e., the applicant, as to why he was

    avoiding the police. However, no satisfactory explanation was

    given by him. Thereafter, the trailer was searched, wherein

    nothing objectionable was found. The said person disclosed his

    name as Ibraheem and stated that he was a resident of 10 KLD,

    Kundal, Police Station Khajuwala, District Bikaner. He further

    informed the police that the trailer belonged to him. Upon

    checking the tyres of the vehicle, it was found that three tyres had

    been lifted through hydraulics and did not contain tubes. Upon

    opening the said tyres, contraband was recovered from inside

    them. A total quantity of 100.245 kg of poppy husk and 625

    grams of opium was recovered. After completing the requisite

    proceedings, the FIR was registered, and upon completion of

    investigation, the charge-sheet was filed. The bail application of

    the applicant was rejected by the learned Special Court vide order

    dated 03.04.2025, while taking into consideration his criminal

    antecedents, including his involvement in two other cases of

    identical nature registered for offences under Sections 8/15 and

    29 of the NDPS Act, 1985, as well as two other cases registered

    under the IPC.

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    3. Learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the present

    case is one of long incarceration, as the applicant has remained

    behind bars for the last one year and nine months. He submitted

    that there are a total of 12 witnesses to be examined on behalf of

    the prosecution and as of now only five witnesses have been

    examined.

    4. He further submitted that the co-accused, Om Prakash S/o

    Chandmal, has already been enlarged on bail by this Court vide

    orders dated 28.07.2025 passed in S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous

    Bail Application No. 6321/2025 (Om Prakash vs. State) as well as

    another co-accused by same name i.e. Omprakash has also been

    enlarged on bail by order dated 19.09.2025 passed in S.B.

    Criminal Miscellaneous Bail Application No. 9665/2025 (Om

    Prakash vs. State), respectively. He submitted that although the

    said co-accused was implicated with the aid of Section 29 of the

    NDPS Act, 1985, on the basis of the statement given by the

    present applicant, considering the fact that they have already

    been enlarged on bail, the applicant is also entitled to bail on the

    ground of parity.

    5. Learned counsel further submitted that no independent

    witness has been examined by the prosecution to prove the

    recovery and compliance with the mandatory provisions of the

    NDPS Act, 1985, and this fact itself creates a doubt regarding the

    recovery allegedly effected from the applicant. He further raised

    the contention that the applicant had no conscious knowledge

    regarding the presence of contraband in the vehicle.

    6. He further submitted that there was a gross delay in

    preparation of inventory and sending of the samples to FSL and

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    therefore there is non-compliance of Section 52-A and the Rules of

    2022 and on this ground alone, the applicant deserves to be

    enlarged on bail. He further asserted that there is non-compliance

    of Section 50 as no notice prior to search was given to the

    applicant and further submitted that there is non-compliance of

    Section 42(2) of the Act of 1985, inasmuch as no information with

    regard to the search and seizure was forwarded to the senior

    officer as mandated under Section 42(2). Counsel places reliance

    upon the judgment passed by the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case

    of State of Rajasthan vs. Parmanand & Anr., (2014) 5 SCC

    345. He therefore implores the Court to allow the bail application

    of the applicant.

    7. Per contra, learned Public Prosecutor opposed the bail

    application and submitted that, so far as the ground of parity is

    concerned, the recovery in the present case was effected from the

    conscious possession of the applicant, whereas co-accused Om

    Prakash was implicated only on the basis of the statement made

    by the present applicant and no recovery was effected from him.

    He submitted that the bail application of the said co-accused was

    allowed on this very ground and, therefore, the applicant cannot

    claim parity with co-accused Om Prakash.

    8. He further submitted that, with regard to the alleged non-

    compliance of Section 52-A and the delay in sending the samples

    to the FSL, the Hon’ble Apex Court has clearly held that the said

    provision is directory and not mandatory, and mere delay in

    compliance would not vitiate the recovery or the trial. He further

    submitted that, since the present case is one of chance recovery,

    the provisions of Sections 42 and 50 of the NDPS Act, 1985, are

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    not applicable. He further asserted that merely because no

    independent witness has been examined would not make any

    difference, as the recovery has been duly proved. He further

    submitted that the present case involves recovery of a huge

    quantity of contraband, which is above the prescribed threshold

    limit of commercial quantity, and therefore the embargo contained

    under Section 37 of the NDPS Act, 1985, would apply. Without

    satisfaction of the twin conditions prescribed under Section 37, the

    bail application filed by the applicant cannot be allowed. He further

    asserted that the applicant has past criminal antecedents and,

    therefore, in view of the second limb of Section 37 of the NDPS

    Act, 1985, the applicant is not entitled to be enlarged on bail.

    Accordingly, he prayed for rejection of the bail application.

    9. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the

    material available on record.

    10. With regard to the argument raised by learned counsel for

    the applicant regarding non-compliance of Section 52-A of the

    NDPS Act, 1985, and the delay in sending the samples to the FSL,

    it would be relevant to observe that it is not the case of the

    applicant that the samples were not intact, nor has any argument

    been raised that the samples were tampered with. The contention

    raised on behalf of the applicant is confined to the alleged delay in

    compliance with the provisions of Section 52-A of the Act of 1985

    and the Rules framed thereunder.

    11. As regards the non-compliance of Section 52A and delay in

    sending the samples for FSL, the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of

    Bharat Aambale v. State of Chhattisgarh, 2025 (8) SCC 452,

    while dealing with all the judgments on the point in issue and even

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    dealing with the reasons for introduction of Section 52-A in the

    year 1989, by way of amendment Act, has held that non-

    compliance of the same, as well as non-compliance of the

    Standing Order or the rules, would not vitiate the trial. The

    Hon’ble Apex Court, held as under:-

    “56. We summarize our final conclusion as under:-

    56.1. Although Section 52-A is primarily for the disposal and
    destruction of seized contraband in a safe manner yet it
    extends beyond the immediate context of drug disposal, as
    it serves a broader purpose of also introducing procedural
    safeguards in the treatment of narcotics substance after
    seizure inasmuch as it provides for the preparation of
    inventories, taking of photographs of the seized substances
    and drawing samples therefrom in the presence and with the
    certification of a magistrate. Mere drawing of samples in
    presence of a gazetted officer would not constitute sufficient
    compliance of the mandate under Section 52-A sub-section
    (2) of the NDPS Act.

    56.2. Although, there is no mandate that the drawing of
    samples from the seized substance must take place at the
    time of seizure as held in Mohanlal (supra), yet we are of
    the opinion that the process of inventorying, photographing
    and drawing samples of the seized substance shall as far as
    possible, take place in the presence of the accused, though
    the same may not be done at the very spot of seizure.
    56.3. Any inventory, photographs or samples of seized
    substance prepared in substantial compliance of the
    procedure prescribed under Section 52-A of the NDPS Act
    and the Rules / Standing Order(s) thereunder would have to
    be mandatorily treated as primary evidence as per Section
    52-A
    sub-section (4) of the NDPS Act, irrespective of
    whether the substance in original is actually produced before
    the court or not.

    56.4. The procedure prescribed by the Standing Order(s) /
    Rules in terms of Section 52-A of the NDPS Act is only
    intended to guide the officers and to see that a fair
    procedure is adopted by the officer in-charge of the
    investigation, and as such what is required is substantial
    compliance of the procedure laid therein.

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    56.5. Mere non-compliance of the procedure under Section
    52-A
    or the Standing Order(s) / Rules thereunder will not be
    fatal to the trial unless there are discrepancies in the
    physical evidence rendering the prosecution’s case doubtful,
    which may not have been there had such compliance been
    done. Courts should take a holistic and cumulative view of
    the discrepancies that may exist in the evidence adduced by
    the prosecution and appreciate the same more carefully
    keeping in mind the procedural lapses.

    56.6. If the other material on record adduced by the
    prosecution, oral or documentary inspires confidence and
    satisfies the court as regards the recovery as-well as
    conscious possession of the contraband from the accused
    persons, then even in such cases, the courts can without
    hesitation proceed to hold the accused guilty
    notwithstanding any procedural defect in terms of Section
    52-A
    of the NDPS Act.

    56.7. Non-compliance or delayed compliance of the said
    provision or rules thereunder may lead the court to drawing
    an adverse inference against the prosecution, however no
    hard and fast rule can be laid down as to when such
    inference may be drawn, and it would all depend on the
    peculiar facts and circumstances of each case.
    56.8. Where there has been lapse on the part of the police
    in either following the procedure laid down in Section 52-A
    of the NDPS Act or the prosecution in proving the same, it
    will not be appropriate for the court to resort to the
    statutory presumption of commission of an offence from the
    possession of illicit material under Section 54 of the NDPS
    Act, unless the court is otherwise satisfied as regards the
    seizure or recovery of such material from the accused
    persons from the other material on record.

    56.9. The initial burden will lie on the accused to first lay
    the foundational facts to show that there was non-
    compliance of Section 52-A, either by leading evidence of its
    own or by relying upon the evidence of the prosecution, and
    the standard required would only be preponderance of
    probabilities.

    56.10. Once the foundational facts laid indicate non-
    compliance of Section 52-A of the NDPS Act, the onus would
    thereafter be on the prosecution to prove by cogent
    evidence that either (i) there was substantial compliance

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    with the mandate of Section 52-A of the NDPS Act OR (ii)
    satisfy the court that such non-compliance does not affect
    its case against the accused, and the standard of proof
    required would be beyond a reasonable doubt.

    57. The appeal, therefore, fails and is hereby dismissed.”

    12. As far as the recovery or the sampling is concerned, the

    same has not been disputed by the learned counsel for the

    applicant, and the only argument tried to be raised is with

    regard to non-compliance of Section 52-A of the Act of 1985. As

    regards the non-compliance of Section 52-A is concerned, the

    Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Narcotics Control Bureau v.

    Kashif, 2024 (11) SCC 372, has held that the provision is

    directory and not mandatory. It has further been held that

    simple irregularity of delay in drawing the sample, or even in

    case of non-compliance of Section 52-A, of the Act of 1985,

    would not vitiate the trial. The Hon’ble Apex Court, has held as

    under:-

    “50. The upshot of the above discussion may be
    summarized as under:-

    50.1. The provisions of NDPS Act are required to be
    interpreted keeping in mind the scheme, object and
    purpose of the Act; as also the impact on the society as
    a whole. It has to be interpreted literally and not
    liberally, which may ultimately frustrate the object,
    purpose and Preamble of the Act.

    50.2. While considering the application for bail, the
    Court must bear in mind the provisions of Section 37 of
    the NDPS Act which are mandatory in nature. Recording
    of findings as mandated in Section 37 is sine qua non is
    known for granting bail to the accused involved in the
    offences under the NDPS Act.

    50.3. The purpose of insertion of Section 52-A laying
    down the procedure for disposal of seized Narcotic Drugs
    and Psychotropic Substances, was to ensure the early
    disposal of the seized contraband drugs and substances.

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    It was inserted in 1989 as one of the measures to
    implement and to give effect to the International
    Conventions on the Narcotic drugs and psychotropic
    substances.

    50.4. Sub-section (2) of Section 52-A lays down the
    procedure as contemplated in sub-section (1) thereof,
    and any lapse or delayed compliance thereof would be
    merely a procedural irregularity which would neither
    entitle the accused to be released on bail nor would
    vitiate the trial on that ground alone.

    50.5. Any procedural irregularity or illegality found to
    have been committed in conducting the search and
    seizure during the course of investigation or thereafter,
    would by itself not make the entire evidence collected
    during the course of investigation, inadmissible. The
    Court would have to consider all the circumstances and
    find out whether any serious prejudice has been caused
    to the accused.

    50.6. Any lapse or delay in compliance of Section 52-A
    by itself would neither vitiate the trial nor would entitle
    the accused to be released on bail. The Court will have to
    consider other circumstances and the other primary
    evidence collected during the course of investigation, as
    also the statutory presumption permissible under Section
    54
    of the NDPS Act.”

    13. The Hon’ble Apex Court has thus clarified that non-

    compliance with Section 52-A of the NDPS Act, the Standing

    Orders, and the Rules of 2022 would not vitiate the trial and

    cannot be made a ground for acquittal. Therefore, the ground

    sought to be raised by the applicant is devoid of merit, more

    particularly when a perusal of the record reveals that the request

    for preparation of inventory was immediately forwarded to the

    concerned Magistrate. However, owing to the transfer of the

    Magistrate, there was a delay in preparation of the inventory.

    14. At page 118 of the paper-book, the inventory report

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    prepared by the Magistrate under Section 52-A of the NDPS Act

    is available on record, which itself establishes that the delay

    occurred due to the transfer of the concerned Magistrate. Not

    only this, at page 71 of the paper-book, the memo regarding

    sending information for preparation of inventory to the

    Magistrate is available, which reveals that the incident occurred

    on 29.09.2024 and on 30.09.2024 itself, a request for

    preparation of inventory and certification thereof under Section

    52-A was made by the concerned officer to the Chief Judicial

    Magistrate, District Pratapgarh.

    15. Further, page 89 of the paper-book reveals that information

    was sent to the learned Special Judge, NDPS Cases, Pratapgarh,

    on 30.09.2024, informing that videography and photographs of

    the entire recovery proceedings had been undertaken and the

    same had been uploaded on the Government portal. However,

    after uploading, the same could not be downloaded due to

    certain technical glitches. Thus, the ground sought to be raised

    by the applicant regarding non-compliance of Section 52-A of the

    NDPS Act and delay in sending the samples to the FSL cannot

    constitute a valid ground for grant of bail. Even otherwise, the

    said ground is not borne out from the material available on

    record.

    16. As regards the objection pertaining to the absence of any

    independent witness, the same also deserves to be rejected, as

    non-examination of an independent witness, by itself, cannot be

    a ground to disbelieve the recovery, particularly when the

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    present case is one of chance recovery.

    17. The same conclusion follows in respect of the contention

    regarding non-compliance with Sections 42 and 50 of the NDPS

    Act, 1985. It is pertinent to note that the present case is not one

    of recovery effected pursuant to prior information but is a case

    of chance recovery. During routine patrolling, the vehicle in

    question was searched and the contraband was recovered.

    Consequently, the present case falls within the ambit of Section

    43 of the NDPS Act, 1985, and, therefore, the requirement of

    recording and forwarding prior information or obtaining a search

    warrant, as contemplated under Sections 41 and 42 of the Act,

    would not arise. This Court recently has dealt with an identical

    issue in the case of “Purshottam Das & Anr. vs. State of

    Rajasthan” in the judgment dated 14.07.2026 passed in S.B.

    Criminal Miscellaneous Bail Application Nos. 8517/2025 &

    1454/2026. There being no prior information and the search

    being conducted in a public place, the provisions of Section 43 of

    the Act of 1985 would apply and Sections 41 & 42 of the NDPS

    Act, 1985 cannot be said to be applicable to the case in hand.

    18. Further, at the time of the search, the police officials had

    no prior knowledge that any contraband was being transported

    or concealed in the vehicle. Therefore, the provisions of the Code

    of Criminal Procedure would govern the search, and there was

    no requirement to serve a notice under Section 50 of the NDPS

    Act, 1985. Even otherwise, the recovery was not effected from

    the person of the applicant but from the truck/trailer being

    driven by him. Consequently, the provisions of Section 50 of the

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    NDPS Act, 1985, are not attracted.

    19. The Hon’ble Apex Court, in Kallu Khan vs. State of

    Rajasthan, (2021) 19 SCC 197, has considered all the

    aforesaid issues and held as under:-

    “12. After hearing and on perusal of the record and the
    evidence brought, it is apparent that on apprehending the
    accused, while making search of the motorcycle, 900 gm of
    smack was seized to which seizure and sample memos were
    prepared, as proved by the departmental witnesses. In the
    facts of the case at hand, where the search and seizure was
    made from the vehicle used, by way of chance recovery from
    public road, the provisions of Section 43 of the NDPS Act would
    apply. In this regard, the guidance may be taken from the
    judgments of this Court in Raju and Sk. Sakkar. However, the
    recovery made by Pranveer Singh (PW 6) cannot be doubted in
    the facts of this case.

    16. Simultaneously, the arguments advanced by the appellant
    regarding non-compliance of Section 50 of the NDPS Act is
    bereft of any merit because no recovery of contraband from the
    person of the accused has been made to which compliance of
    the provision of Section 50 the NDPS Act has to follow
    mandatorily. In the present case, in the search of motorcycle at
    public place, the seizure of contraband was made, as revealed.
    Therefore, compliance of Section 50 does not attract in the
    present case. It is settled in Vijaysinh that in the case of
    personal search only, the provisions of Section 50 of the Act is
    required to be complied with but not in the case of vehicle as in
    the present case, following the judgments of Surinder Kumar.
    Considering the facts of this Court, the argument of non-
    compliance of Section 50 of the NDPS Act advanced by the
    counsel is hereby repelled.

    17. The issue raised regarding conviction solely relying upon
    the testimony of police witnesses, without procuring any
    independent witness, recorded by the two courts, has also been
    dealt with by this Court in Surinder Kumar holding that merely
    because independent witnesses were not examined, the
    conclusion could not be drawn that the accused was falsely
    implicated. Therefore, the said issue is also well settled and in
    particular, looking to the facts of the present case, when the
    conduct of the accused was found suspicious and a chance

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    recovery from the vehicle used by him is made from public
    place and proved beyond reasonable doubt, the appellant
    cannot avail any benefit on this issue. In our view, the
    concurrent findings of the courts does not call for interference.”

    20. The Hon’ble Apex Court has categorically held that, in the

    case of search of a vehicle, the provisions of Section 50 of the

    NDPS Act, 1985, are not attracted. The contention regarding

    non-examination of any independent witness has also been

    repelled by the Hon’ble Apex Court. It has further been held that

    where the recovery is a chance recovery effected from a vehicle

    on a public road during inspection, the provisions of Section 43

    of the NDPS Act, 1985, would apply and not those of Section 42.

    21. As regards the reliance placed by learned counsel for the

    applicant on the judgment in State of Rajasthan vs. Parmanand

    (supra), the same is clearly distinguishable on facts. The said

    case did not pertain to a chance recovery but involved a

    recovery effected pursuant to prior secret information.

    Therefore, the observations made therein regarding the

    mandatory compliance of Section 50 of the NDPS Act, 1985,

    have no application to the facts of the present case.

    22. The contention raised by learned counsel for the applicant

    seeking bail on the ground of parity with co-accused Om Prakash

    also deserves to be rejected. Admittedly, no recovery was

    effected from the conscious possession of the said co-accused,

    and they were implicated solely on the basis of the disclosure

    statement made by the present applicant. In contrast, in the

    present case, a commercial quantity of contraband has been

    recovered from the conscious possession of the applicant from

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    the truck/trailer being driven by him. Therefore, neither the

    ground of parity nor the plea of absence of conscious possession

    is available to the applicant, particularly in view of the statutory

    presumptions contained under Sections 35 and 54 of the NDPS

    Act, 1985.

    23. So far as the plea of long incarceration is concerned, the

    same is also not made out. Learned counsel for the applicant

    submitted that, as on date, five out of the total ten prosecution

    witnesses have been examined thus it can be safely said that

    trial is going on at good pace. Even otherwise, the applicant has

    remained in custody for the last one year and nine months only.

    In the facts and circumstances of the present case, such period

    of custody, by itself, cannot be regarded as constituting long

    incarceration so as to warrant grant of bail, more particularly,

    the minimum sentence of 10 years and maximum sentence of 20

    years prescribed for commission of offence alleged against the

    applicant.

    24. The Hon’ble Apex Court, in the case of Union of India vs.

    Vigin K. Varghese, 2025 SCC OnLine SC 2440, while dealing

    with an identical issue of prolonged incarceration, has held as

    under:-

    17. The High Court then, on the strength of those premises,
    recorded a finding that there exist reasonable grounds to
    believe that the applicant is not guilty of the alleged offence,
    treating prolonged incarceration and likely delay as the
    justification for bail. Such a finding is not a casual observation.

    It is the statutory threshold under Section 37(1)(b)(ii) which
    would disentitle the discretionary relief and grant of bail must
    necessarily rest on careful appraisal of the material available. A
    conclusion of this nature, if returned without addressing the

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    prosecution’s assertions of operative control and antecedent
    involvement, risks trenching upon appreciation of evidence
    which would be in the domain of trial court at first instance.

    25. In Union of India vs. Namdeo Ashruba Nakade, 2025

    SCC OnLine SC 3049, while dealing with the issue of long

    incarceration, Hon’ble Apex Court has held as under:-

    “11. In the present case, this Court finds that though the
    Respondent-accused was in custody for one year four months
    and charges have not been framed, yet the allegations are
    serious inasmuch as not only is the recovery much in excess of
    the commercial quantity but the Respondent-accused allegedly
    got the cavities ingeniously fabricated below the trailor to
    conceal the contraband.”

    26. Very recently, the Hon’ble Apex Court, in the case of State

    of Punjab vs. Balraj Singh @ Billa, 2026 SCC OnLine SC

    1058, has held that while dealing with bail applications involving

    commercial quantities of narcotic drugs, the embargo under

    Section 37 of the NDPS Act, 1985, has to be considered, and

    satisfaction regarding the conditions laid down therein has to be

    recorded. The Hon’ble Apex Court, while considering the period

    of incarceration of 1 year and 7 months, has held as under:-

    “18. Upon consideration of the case of the respondent against
    the twin conditions laid down in Section 37, we are of the view
    that no case for bail is made out. There are antecedents
    involving commission of offences of the very same nature under
    the NDPS Act, therefore it cannot be said that he is not likely to
    commit such an offence while on bail.

    19. Moreover, the respondent has only undergone 1 year 7
    months, and if found guilty a maximum sentence of twenty
    years may be imposed upon him. Therefore, it cannot be said
    that he has suffered incarceration for a long period, warranting
    interference in view of Article 21 of the Constitution.

    20. While this Court has recognized on several occasions that
    prolonged incarceration warrants the grant of bail in view of
    Article 21 of the Constitution, we have noticed that the
    application thereof is not uniform. Moreover, there is no doubt

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    that what constitutes “prolonged incarceration” for the purposes
    of bail, has not been expounded by this Court or the law of the
    land.”

    27. Again, in the case of State of Punjab vs. Sukhwinder

    Singh @ Gora, 2026 SCC OnLine SC 671, an identical issue

    came up for consideration before the Hon’ble Apex Court in

    which it has been held as under:-

    “10. The impugned order, on its own showing, does not record
    the satisfaction mandated under Section 37(1)(b)(ii) of the
    NDPS Act. Far from recording such satisfaction, the High Court
    has gone on to observe that ‘the rigours of Section 37 of the
    NDPS Act can be diluted bearing in mind the right to a speedy
    trial.’ Such an approach is plainly contrary to the settled law
    laid down by this Court and deserves to be set aside on this
    ground alone. The right to speedy trial, rooted in Article 21 of
    the Constitution, is undoubtedly a precious Constitutional right.
    That said, in matters governed by a special enactment such as
    the NDPS Act, particularly where the recovery is of commercial
    quantity, the said right under Article 21 must be exercised
    within the framework of Section 37 and cannot be pressed into
    service solely on the ground of delay to override it. The
    constitutional right under Article 21 and the special provision of
    law under Section 37, NDPS Act are to be read harmoniously
    and not placed in opposition to each other. The High Court, by
    failing to record its satisfaction on the twin conditions under
    Section 37, has in this Court’s view, committed an error.”

    28. Thus, considering the same, bail applications cannot be

    decided merely on the basis of prolonged incarceration, and the

    twin conditions under Section 37 of the NDPS Act, 1985, also

    have to be considered.

    29. Thus, the present ground is also not sustainable. More

    particularly, in the present case, the applicant is having criminal

    antecedents inasmuch as not only there are prior cases for

    offences under IPC but there are two cases pending against the

    applicant for offences punishable under the Act of 1985 itself.

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    Thus the second prong as provided under Section 37 of the

    NDPS Act, 1985, i.e. “that the applicant is not likely to commit

    any offence while on bail” would come into play and looking to

    the previous criminal antecedents, that satisfaction cannot be

    recorded by this Court.

    30. As an upshot of above, the bail application filed by the

    applicant is bereft of merit and the same is dismissed

    accordingly. However, the learned Trial Court is directed to

    expedite the trial proceedings.

    31. It is further, made clear that the findings

    recorded/observations made hereinabove are for limited

    purposes of adjudication of bail application and the same shall

    not prejudice the trial of the case in any manner.

    (SANDEEP SHAH),J

    143/Love/680

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