Aashish Verma v. Union of India

o o 1o o o 119o(8ocases)o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoAToINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANA ATo CHANDIGARHoCHANDIGARH o o o o o 1.o CRM-M-46779-2025o1. CRM 46779 2025 o AashishoVermaoo ….Petitionero versuso o UnionoofoIndiaothoughoNarcoticsoControloBureau,oAmritsaroZonaloUnit,o Amritsarooo ….Respondento o o o 2.o CRM-M-54085-2025o o ManpreetoSinghoo ….Petitionero versuso o UnionoofoIndiao ….Respondento o o o o o 3.o CRM-M-50635-2025o3. CRM 50635 2025 o Kaushikoo ….Petitionero versuso o UnionoofoIndia,oNCB,oAmritsaroo ….Respondento o o o 4.o CRM-M-50370-2025o o ArjunoSinghoo ….Petitionero versuso o StateoofoPunjaboandoanotheroo ….Respondentso o o o 5.o CRM-M-23076-2025o o NaveenoGuptaoo

o o o o 2o o ….Petitionero versuso o UnionoofoIndiaothroughoSuboInspector,oNCB,o AmritsaroZonaloUnito ….Respondento o o o 6.o CRM-M-44507-2025o o SonuoSinghoo ….Petitionero versuso o UnionoofoIndiaoo ….Respondento o o o 7.o CRM-M-52984-2025o o SukhpaloSinghoo ….Petitionero versuso o UnionoofoIndiaothroughoSuboInspectoro,o NCB,oAmritsaroZonaloUnitoo ….Respondento o o o 8.o CRM-M-25638-2025o o HarshoKumaroo ….Petitionero versuso o UnionoofoIndia,oNCB,oZonaloUnit,oAmritsaroo ….Respondento o DateoofoDecision:oFebruaryo11,o2026o DateoofoUploading:oFebruaryo12,o2026o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo o Present:-o Dr.oAnmoloRattanoSidhu,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.oPradeepoSharma,oAdvocate,oo o o Mr.oKanishkoSwaroop,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o (inoCRM-M-46779-2025).oo o o o Mr.oShyamoBabu,oAdvocateoandoo o o Mr.oAnteshoKumaroMishra,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o (inoCRM-M-50635-2025).oo

o o o o 3o o o o o Mr.oGurmeetoSinghoSaini,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o (inoCRM-M-54085-2025).oo o o o Mr.oRuhanioChadha,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o (inoCR-M-52984-2025).oo o o o Mr.oAjayoKumar,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o (inoCRM-M-25638-2025).oo o o o Ms.oNavjotoKaur,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o (inoCRM-M-23076-2025oandoCRM-M-44507-2025).oo o o o Mr.oHukamoSingh,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o (inoCRM-M-50370-2025).oo o o o Mr.oAdhirajoSinghoThind,oAAGoPunjabo o o (inoCRM-M-50370-2025).ooo o o o Mr.oRajivoSharma,oSpecialoPublicoProsecutorowithoo o o Ms.oInduoBalaoSharma,oAdvocate,o o o Mr.oVinayakoAtri,oAdvocateoandoo o o Ms.oAmritoKashyap,oAdvocateoforotheorespondento–oNCB.oo o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(ORAL)oo o o o Byowayoofotheopresentocommonojudgment,othisoCourtoproceedsotoo adjudicateo theo aforesaido eighto petitionso togethero ino viewo ofo theo admittedo commonalityoofofactualomatrixoandocongruityoofolegaloissuesoinvolvedotherein,o asofairlyoconcededobyotheolearnedocounseloappearingoforotheorespectiveoparties.oo o o Forotheosakeoofoconvenienceo&obrevity,otheofactsoareoextractedo fromoCRM-M-46779-2025otitledoasoAashishoVermaoversusoUnionoofoIndia,o throughoNarcoticsoControloBureau,oAmritsaroZonaloUnit,oAmritsar.oo

2.o o Presento petitionso haveo beeno filedo undero Sectiono 483o ofo theo BharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023o(foroshorto'BNSS')oseekingogranto ofo regularo bailo too theo petitioner(s),o ino NCBo Crimeo Caseo No.51o datedo

08.12.2024,oregisteredounderoSectionso8,o8(a),o22,o25,o27-A,o29,o35,o54o&o60o

o o o o 4o o ofo theo Narcotico Drugso ando Psychotropico Substanceso Act,o 1985o (foro shorto 'NDPSoAct'),oatoPoliceoStationoNCB,oAmritsaroZonaloUnit,oAmritsar.oo

3.o o AsoperocaseosetupobyotheoNarcoticsoControloBureau,otheocomplainto inoquestionopertainsotoorecoveryoofoaocommercialoquantityoofocontraband,oi.e.o 1,37,11,610o tabletso (totalo weighingo 5772.584o Kg.o albeito witho strips)o containingoAlprazolam,oTramadoloandoZolpidemoTartrate.oo

4.o o Learnedo senioro counselo foro theo petitionero (ino CRM-M-46779-2025)ohasoarguedothatotheopetitioneroisoinocustodyosinceo23.05.2025.oLearnedo seniorocounselohasofurtherosubmittedothatomandatoryoprovisionsoofotheoNDPSo Actohaveonotobeenoscrupulouslyocompliedowith,oandothus,otheoprosecutionocaseo suffersofromoinherentodefects.oLearnedoseniorocounselohasoiteratedothatotheotrialo haso noto progressedo witho dueo expeditiono ando theo delayo thereofo cannoto beo fastenedo upono theo petitioner.o Learnedo senioro counselo haso iteratedo thato theo petitioneroisooneoofotheodirectorsoofotheoIKONoPharmachemoPrivateoLimited,oao dulyo licensedo pharmaceuticalo entity,o situatedo ino Dehradun,o authorizedo too manufactureoandodistributeodrugsoandothatotheoCompanyoholdsovalidolicenseo undero Scheduleso C,oC(I)o ando Xoofo theoDrugso ando Cosmeticso Rules,o 1945.o Learnedoseniorocounselohasoarguedothatotheosaidocompanyohasonotoeffectedoanyo directo saleo too individualo unauthorizedo entitieso lackingo requisiteo licences.o LearnedoseniorocounselohasoarguedothatoEmbitoBiooMedix,oaodulyoregisteredo andoauthorizedodealer/odistributorounderotheoDrugoandoCosmeticoRules,o1945,o holdingoaovalidolicenceoforotheoperiodo27.02.2023otoo26.02.2028,ohadoplacedo lawfulopurchaseoorder(s)owithoIKONocompany.oLearnedoseniorocounselohaso arguedo thato theo entireo recordo ofo theo companyo dulyo standso suppliedo too theo

o o o o 5o o investigatingoofficeroandoevenotheocomplaintohasoalreadyobeenofiledobyotheo NCB.oLearnedoseniorocounselohasofurtheroarguedothatorigorsoofoSectiono37oofo theoNDPSoareonotoattractedoinotheopresentocaseoasoneitheroanyooffenceohasobeeno committedobyotheocompanyonorohasoitoindulgedointooanyoillegalosale/oactivitieso asoallegedobyotheoNCB.oo

4.1.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero (ino CRM-M-54085-2025),o apartofromosubmissionsomadeobyolearnedoSeniorocounsel,oasoaforesaid,ohaso arguedothatotheopetitioneroisoinocustodyosinceo09.01.2025.oLearnedocounselohaso arguedothatotheopetitionerowasonotonamedoinotheocomplaintoinoquestionoandohaso beenoimplicated,oinothisocase,oonlyoonotheobasisoofodisclosureostatementoofoco-accused,onamely,oDaljitoSinghoaliasoHeeraoSingh.oLearnedocounselohasoiteratedo thato excepto theo saido disclosureo statement,o thereo iso nothingo othero evidenceo availableotooconnectotheopetitionerowithotheoallegedorecovery.oo

4.2.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero (ino CRM-M-50635-2025),o whileoadoptingotheosubmissionsomadeobyolearnedoSeniorocounsel,oasoaforesaid,o hasoarguedothatotheopetitioneroisoinocustodyosinceo18.04.2025.oLearnedocounselo hasoarguedothatotheopetitionerowasoneitheronamedoinotheosecretoinformationonoro wasohisonameodisclosedobyoanyoofotheoco-accused,ofromowhoseopossessionotheo allegedo contrabando waso recovered.o Learnedo counselo haso arguedo thato theo petitioneroisoproprietoroofoEmbitoBiooMedix,oaodulyolicensedofirmoengagedoino marketing,owholesaleodealershipoandodistributionoofopharmaceuticalomedicineso underoDrugsoandoCosmeticsoAct.oLearnedocounselohasoiteratedothatonoomaterialo existsotoodemonstrateothatotheopetitionerosoldoallegedomedicinesotooanyoco-accusedoorothatoanyopersonohasoallegedotheoprocurementoofotheosameofromotheo

o o o o 6o o petitioner.oLearnedocounselohasoiteratedothatoallegedocounterfeitoandospuriouso medicineso recoveredo fromo co-accusedo bearo noo nexuso witho theo petitioner.o LearnedocounselohasoiteratedothatotheopetitioneroappearedobeforeotheoNCBoono severalooccasionsoandofullyocooperatedowithotheoinvestigation,ohowever,otheo NCBoillegallyoissuedoLOCoagainstotheopetitioner.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedo thatostatutoryoembargoounderoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoActoisonotoattractedoino thisocaseoandonoodirectolinkoexistsobetweenotheopetitioneroandotheoallegedosaleo ofocounterfeitoEmbitobrandomedicinesobyoRamoKewaloofoJRoPharmaceuticals.o

4.3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero (ino CRM-M-50370-2025),o apartofromosubmissionsomadeobyolearnedoSeniorocounsel,oasoaforesaid,ohaso arguedothatotheopetitioneroisoinocustodyosinceo23.05.2025.oLearnedocounselohaso iteratedothatotheopetitionerorunsoaocompanyowithotheonameo"LifeoCareoPharma",o whicho iso registeredo undero theo Drugso ando Cosmeticso Rules,o 1945.o Learnedo counselohasoiteratedothatotheopetitionerocompanyohasonotosoldoevenoaosingleo tabletotooanyoindividualooroinotheoopenomarket.oLearnedocounselohasoiteratedo thatononeoofotheoco-accusedoisoknownotootheopetitioner.oLearnedocounselohaso furtheroiteratedothatothereoisonooevidenceoavailableowithotheoprosecutionotoo connectotheopetitionerowithotheooffenceoinoquestion.oo

4.4.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero (ino CRM-M-23076-2025),o apartofromosubmissionsomadeobyolearnedoSeniorocounsel,oasoaforesaid,ohaso arguedothatotheopetitioneroisoinocustodyosinceo04.01.2025.oLearnedocounselohaso furtheroiteratedothatotheopetitionerohasobeenonominatedoinothisocaseoonotheobasiso ofodisclosureostatementoofoco-accused,onamely,oSonu,owhichoisonotopermissibleo inolaw.oo

o o o o 7o o

4.5.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero (ino CRM-M-44507-2025),o apartofromosubmissionsomadeobyolearnedoSeniorocounsel,oasoaforesaid,ohaso arguedothatotheopetitioneroisoinocustodyosinceo08.12.2024.oLearnedocounselohaso furtheroiteratedothatotheopetitioneroisorunningoaoChemistoshopounderotheonameo ando styleo ofo M/so H.B.o Pharmao havingo valido ando legalo drugo licenceo uptoo

10.05.2026.oo

4.6.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero (ino CRM-M-52984-2025),o apartofromosubmissionsomadeobyolearnedoSeniorocounsel,oasoaforesaid,ohaso arguedothatotheopetitioneroisoinocustodyosinceo09.12.2025.oLearnedocounselohaso arguedothatoonotheobasisoofosecretoinformation,otheopetitionerohasobeenofalselyo implicatedointootheoFIRoinoquestionoandotheostoryoput-forthobyotheoprosecutiono isoconcoctedoone.oo

4.7.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero (ino CRM-M-25638-2025),o apartofromosubmissionsomadeobyolearnedoSeniorocounsel,oasoaforesaid,ohaso arguedothatotheopetitioneroisoinocustodyosinceo03.01.2025.oLearnedocounselohaso iteratedothatotheopetitionerohasobeenoimplicated,oinothisocase,oonotheobasisoofo disclosureostatementoofoco-accused,onamely,oSonuoSingh.oLearnedocounselohaso furtheroarguedothatoallegedlyotheopetitioneromadeodeliveriesoofopsychotropico medicinesounderotheodirectionsoofooneoVarunoKumar,obutosaidoconfessionalo statementoisonotopermissibleoinolaw.oo o o Apartofromotheoabove,olearnedoseniorocounseloandootherocounsel,o ino respectiveo cases,o haveo arguedo thato upono culminationo ofo investigation,o challanostandsopresentedoandototalo50oprosecutionowitnessesohaveobeenocited,o outoofowhich,ononeohasobeenoexaminedotillodate.oNothingoisotoobeorecoveredo

o o o o 8o o fromotheopetitioners.oTheopetitionersohaveosufferedosubstantialoincarcerationo andonoousefulopurposeowouldobeoservedobyokeepingotheopetitionersobehindobars.o Thus,oregularobailoisoprayedofor.oo

5.o o Pero contra,o learnedo counselo foro theo respondento –o NCBo haso opposedotheopresentopetitionsobyoarguingothatotheoallegationsoraisedoagainstotheo petitioner(s)oareoseriousoinonatureoand,othus,otheopetitioner(s)odoonotodeserveo theoconcessionoofotheoregularobail.oo

5.1.o o Raisingosubmissionsoinotandemowithotheoreplyodatedo09.09.2025o andoadditionaloreplyodatedo16.10.2026,oalreadyoonorecord,olearnedocounseloforo theo respondento–o NCBo haso arguedo thatotheo roleoofotheopetitionero (Aashisho Verma)oreadsothus:o "12.oThat,oThatotheopetitioner,oAashishoVerma,owasooneoofotheodirectorsoofo IKONo Pharmaceuticalso ando waso previouslyo arrestedo byo theo personnelo ofo NCBoAmritsaroinoconnectionowithoNCBoAmritsaroCrimeoNo.o04/2024.oo o

13.o Thato ano applicationo waso filedo beforeo theo flon'bleo Courto alo Amritsaro seekingoissuanceoofoproductionowarrontoforofiveodaysoofoNCBoremandoofotheo accused,o Aashisho Verma,o Soo Lt.o Umesho Chando (Directoro ofo IKONo haraceuticals,oono21.05.2025,oTheoonbleoCourtograntedotwoodaysoofoNCBo remand,oasotheonecusedowasoalreadyoinojudicialocustodyoinoNCBoAmritsaro CrimeoNo.o04/2025.oo o

14.oThatoduringotheoremandoperiod,oaonoticeounderoSectiono67oofotheoNDPSo Act,o1985owasoissuedotootheoaccused,oAashishoVerma,oSooLt.oUmeshoChando Verma,oRoo852,oIndiraoNagaroColony,oDehradun,oUttarakhand.oTheoaccusedo wasoinformedoofotheoprovisionsoofoSctiono67oofotheoNDPSoAct.o1985.oo o

15.o Thato theo voluntaryo statemento ofo theo accused,o Aashisho Verma,o waso recorded,o whereino heo admittedo hiso involvemento ino theo instanto case.o Heo disclosedothatoheohadosoldoapproximatelyooneocroreoNoxotabletsotooKaushik'so firm,oEmbitoBiooMedix,odespiteoknowingothatotheofirm'sodrugolicenseohado previouslyobeenocanceledobyotheodrugoauthorityodueotooirregularitiesoinotheo saleoofoNrxotablets.oo o

16.oThatoheofurtherodisclosedothatoKaushikosoldotheoNoxomedicinesoinotheo blacko marketo ino exchangeo foro largeo sumso ofo money,o whileo maintainingo properodocumentationotooevadeolegaloproceedings.oHeostatedothatoheowaso awareoKaushikosoldoNrxomedicinesotoovariousofirmsothatoexistedoonlyoono paperoandowereonotooperationaloinoreality.oo o

o o o o 9o o

17.oThatotheopetitioneroalsoodisclosedothat,odespiteoknowingoallotheofactso abouto Embito Bioo Medixo ando itso involvemento ino theo diversiono ofo Nrxo medicinesointootheoblackomarket,oheocontinuedotoosellolargeoquantitiesoofoNoxo medicines,omotivatedobyotheoprospectoofohighoprofits.oo o

18.oThatoheofurtherodisclosedosellingoaosubstantialoquantityoofoNrxomedicineso tooTiwarioMedicose,osituatedoinoDehradun.oHeostatedothatotheosaidofirmowaso notooperationaloinotheofieldoandowasomanagedobyooneoPrafulloSharma.oHeo alsooadmittedothatotheofirmowasoregisteredoinotheonameoofoMeeraoTiwari,o whomoheohadoneverocontacted.oo o

19.oThatobasedoonohisovoluntaryostatementounderoSectiono67oofotheoNDPSo Act,oheowasoarrestedoandosubsequentlyoproducedobeforeotheoHon'bleoCourtoofo JMIC,oAmritsar,oPunjab,oono25.05.2025,oalongowithotheorelevantodocuments.o TheoCourtograntedojudicialocustody.oo o

20.oThatotheorecoveryoinotheopresentocaseoisoaocommercialoquantityoandoiso coveredounderosectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct.oTheocaseocomesounderotheostricto provisionso ofo sectiono 37o ofo theo Acto aso faro aso theo provisiono ofo bailo iso concerned.oTheopetitionerowasoworkingoinoaoveryoplannedomannerowithoothero co-accusedoandoinocaseobailoisograntedotootheopetitioner,oheoshalloindulgeoino similaroactivitiesoasoheohasoinodepthoexperienceoofotheoillegalotrade."o o

5.2.o o Raisingosubmissionsoinotandemowithotheoreplyodatedo04.01.2026,o alreadyoonorecord,olearnedocounseloforotheorespondento–oNCBohasoarguedothato theoroleoofotheopetitionero(ManpreetoSingh)oreadsothus:o "3.oThatotheopetitionero isonotoentitledoforo concessionoofobailo U/so483o ofo BharatiyaoNagrikoSurakshaoSanhitao(BNSS),o2023oinoviewoofotheofactsoando circumstanceso ofo theo presento caseo ando undero theo NDPSo Act,o 1985.o Theo NarcoticsoControloBureauo(NCB)oreceivedosecretoinformationoindicatingothato twooindividuals,oSukhpaloSinghosonoofoDarshanoSingh,oresidentoofoRaiyao Mod,o Beas,o Amritsar,o ando Harvindero Singho sono ofo Gurbachano Singh,o residentoofoBulleoNangal,oBeas,oAmritsar,owereoinvolvedoinotheoillegalosaleo ando purchaseo ofo psychotropico medicines.o Actingo ono thiso intelligence,o ao searcho waso conducted,o leadingo too theo recoveryo ofo 35,120o tabletso ofo Alprazolamo ando 1,220o tabletso ofo Tramadol.o Consequently,o theo accusedo SukhpaloSinghoandoHarvinderoSinghowereoarrested.oTheocaseoproperty,oalongo withotheoaccused,owasosubsequentlyopresentedobeforeotheoHon'bleoCourt,oando proceedingsounderoSectiono52-AoofotheoNDPSoActowereoconducted.oo o

4.oThatoduringotheocourseoofotheoinvestigation,oSukhpaloSinghoadmittedotheo modeoandofactumooforecoveryoandoheodisclosedotheonameoofoSonuoSingh,o whicholedotootheorecoveryoofo11,400otabletsoofoTramadoloando9,600otabletsoofo Alprazolam,oalongowithotheoarrestoofoSonuoSingh.oItoisopertinentotoomentiono hereothatoSonuoSingh,oduringohisointerrogation,orevealedothatoheohadobeeno receivingodeliveriesofromoVarunoKumaroandohisoassociate,oHarshoKumar.o Duringotheoinvestigation,oHarvinderoSingh,odisclosedotheonameoofoanothero individual,o Diljito Singh,o alsoo knowno aso Heerao Singh,o whicho ledo too theo recoveryo ofo 10,000o tabletso ofo Tramadol,o alongo witho theo arresto ofo Heerao Singh.oo o

o o o o 10o o

5.o Thato theo accusedo Heerao Singho ino hiso voluntaryo statemento datedo

13.12.2024o alsoo disclosedo thato heo hado beeno receivingo deliverieso ofo psychotropicoTabletsofromoanoindividualonamedoManpreetoSingh,owhoowasoao friendoofohisoson,oNavjotoSingh.oHeofurtherostatedothatoManpreetoSinghowaso usingotheomobileonumbero8196866802,oandoheoalsooidentifiedotheophotographo ofoManpreetoSingh.oo o

6.oAonoticeounderoSectiono67oofotheoNDPSoAct,oissuedotooManpreetoSinghoSoo JogindheroSinghoR/ooPyramidoCity,oGoldenoGate,oAmritsarofororecordingohiso statement.oInohisostatementodatedo08.01.2025o&o09.01.2025oheostatedothatoheo purchasedoandogaveo10,000otramadolotabletsotooHiraoSinghoapprox.o05odayso beforeotheoaforesaidopsychotropicoTabletsowasoseizedobyoNCBoAmritsar.oTheo sameotabletsowereogivenotooHiraoSinghobecauseoNavjotoSinghoSooHiraoSingho hadoaskedohimotoodooso.oBothoManpreetoSinghoandoNavjotoSinghousedotoo arrangeotheopsychotropicoTabletsofromoLudhiana,oSheroSinghoKatraomarket,o Amritsaro ando gaveo theseo too Hirao Singho soo thato heo couldo sello theseo psychotropicoTabletsoinotheoillegalomarket.oManpreetoSinghousedotookeepo theseopsychotropicoTabletsoinohisohouse/warehouseoandofurtherohandedoovero theopsychotropicoTabletsotooHeeraoSinghoinotheodirectionoofoNavjotoSinghoSoo HeeraoSingh.oHeoalsooidentifiedotheophotographoofoNavjotoSinghoandoHeerao Singh.o Basedo ono theo voluntaryo confessionalo statemento recordedo undero Sectiono67oofotheoNDPSoActo(1985),oManpreetoSinghoSooJogindheroSingh,o wasoarrestedoono09/01/2025oato1425.oo o Duringocourseoofoinvestigation,oMobileoDataooforecoveredomobileophoneso formoHeeraoSinghoandoManpreetoSinghowasoextractedoandofoundothatothereo wereo96oWhatsAppoCallobetweenoHeeraoSinghoandoManpreetoSinghoando55o WhatsAppocallobetweenoManpreetoSinghoandooNavjotoSingh.oExtractedodatao ofotheorecoveredomobileophoneoreceivedoformoSystoolsoPvt.oLtd.otheosameo haso beeno attachedo witho theo complainto ino Crimeo No.o 51/2024o datedo

02.06.2025.oo o

7.o That,o duringo courseo ofo investigation,o ito comeso too lighto thato outo ofo recoveredo medicine,o 7143480o tabletso wereo manufacturedo byo IKONo Pharmaceuticals,o Dehraduno ando marketedo byo Embito Bioo Medix,o Poantao Sahibo ino collusiono witho eacho othero ino contraventiono ofo theo provisiono ofo NDPSoAct.oAnoinquiryowasoconductedoatotheopremisesoofoM/soEmbitoBioo Medix,owhichowasofoundotoobeoaosingle-shutteroshop.oInofact,oAoteamofromo NCBoAmritsarovisitedotheopremisesoofoM/soEmbitoBiooMedixoandofoundoao singleo shop,o whicho waso closedo ando noto operatingo regularly.o Noo representativeso oro staffo wereo present.o Ao noticeo undero Sectiono 67o ofo theo NDPSoActowasoaffixed,odirectingoproprietoroMr.oKaushikotooappear,obutoheo didonototurnoup.o o Theoproprietor,oofoM/soEmbitoBiooMedixoMr.oKaushik,owasoissuedoaonoticeo undero Sectiono 67o ofo theo NDPSo Act,o 1985o directingo himo too recordo hiso statement.o Theo noticeo waso alsoo affixedo too theo shuttero ofo theo premises;o however,o heo dido noto respond.o Additionalo inquiries/o Raido wereo madeo ato residenceoofoMr.oKaushikoinoBurari,oDelhi,owhereoitowasodiscoveredothatoMr.o Kaushikowasoalsoooperatingoanotherofirm,oAashioPharmaceuticals,olocatedoino Bhawana,oDelhi.oItoisopertinentotoomentionohereothatosecondonoticeoundero Sectiono67oofotheoNDPSoActowasoissuedoandoservedotooMr.oKaushik'sofather,o Mahendero Pal,o despiteo twoo noticeso beingo issuedo too Mr.o Kaushiko undero Sectiono67oofotheoNDPSoAct,oheofailedotooappear.oConsequently,oaoLook-Outo Circularo(LOC)owasoissuedoinohisoname.oo o

o o o o 11o o

8.o Thato ono 18.04.2025,o theo Bureauo ofo Immigration,o Delhio informedo theo officeothatoMr.oKaushikohadobeenodetainedoatoIGIoAirport.oTheoNCBoTeamo wentotootheoairport,owhereoMr.oKaushikowasohandedooverobyotheoimmigrationo authorities.o Ao voluntaryo statemento ofo Mr.o Kaushiko waso recordedo undero Sectiono67oofotheoNDPSoAct,oinowhichoheoadmittedothatoheohadoopenedoM/so Aashio Pharmaceuticalso undero Deepako Ram'so nameo too concealo hiso involvemento aftero theo Delhio Drugo Authorityo revokedo theo licenseo ofo hiso previousobusinessonamelyoM/soEmbitoBiooMedix,odueotooit'soinvolvemento withotraffickingoofoNRxomedicine.oMr.oKaushikoalsooconfessedothatoheore-establishedo M/so Embito Bioo Medixo ino Poantao Sahib,o Himachalo Pradesh,o hidingotheocancellationoofohisopreviousolicense.oHeofurtheroadmittedothatoheo openedoM/soAashioPharmaceuticalsoinoDeepakoRam'sonameotooillegallyosello NRxomedicinesoforoprofit.oo o

9.oThatoMr.oKaushik,ofearingoapprehensionoofoarrestoattemptedotoofleeotoo Vietnamotooevadeolegaloconsequences.oBasedoonohisovoluntaryostatement,oheo wasoarrestedounderoSectionso8oando22oofotheoNDPSoActoono18.04.2025.oOno

20.04.2025,otheoNCBoTeamoconductedoaosearchooperationoatotheopremisesoofo M/soEmbitoBiooMedixoandorecoveredo19,25,200oTramadolotablets.oAofollow-upo actiono waso alsoo carriedo outo ato M/so Aashio Pharmaceuticals,o whereo additionalo seizureo ofo 8328460o tabletso ofo Tramadol,o 2966400o tabletso ofo Alprazolamoando424200otabletsoofoZolpidemowereoseized.oo o

10.oThatoisopertinentotoomentionedohereothatotheolicenceoofoEmbitoBiooMedix,o M/so Aashio Pharmaceuticalso haveo alsoo beeno cancelledo byo theo Drugo Authorities,okeepingoinoviewotheooffenceocommittedobyotheoaforementionedo firmsoinocontraventionoofoprovisionoofotheoNDPSoAct.oTheocopiesoofotheo cancellationo orderso passedo byo theo authoritieso areo attachedo herewitho aso AnnexureoR/4otooR/5.oInofact,otheoaforementionedodrugsowereomanufacturedo byoIKONoPharmaceuticals,oDehradunoandomarketedobyoEmbitoBiooMedixo andoM/soAashioPharmaceuticalsoinocontraventionoofotheoprovisionsoofotheo NDPSoAct.oInootherowords,otheopetitioneroinocollusionowithotheocooaccusedo andowithomalfideointention,ocommittedotheoheinousooffence."o o

5.3.o o Raisingosubmissionsoinotandemowithotheoreplyodatedo11.11.2025o andoadditionaloreplyodatedo16.01.2026,oalreadyoonorecord,olearnedocounseloforo theorespondento–oNCBohasoarguedothatotheoroleoofotheopetitionero(Kaushik)o readsothus:o "3.oThatoduringotheocourseoofotheoinvestigation,oSukhpaloSinghoadmittedotheo modeoofofactumorecoveryoandoheodisclosedotheonameoofoSonuoSingh,owhicho ledo too theo recoveryo ofo 11,400o tabletso ofo Tramadolo ando 9,600o tabletso ofo Alprazolam,oalongowithotheoarrestoofoSonuoSingh.oItoisopertinentotoomentiono hereothatoSonuoSingh,oduringohisointerrogation,orevealedothatoheohadobeeno receivingodeliveriesofromoVarunoKumaroandohisoassociate,oHarshoKumar.o Duringotheoinvestigation,oHarvinderoSingh,odisclosedotheonameoofoanothero individual,o Diljito Singh,o alsoo knowno aso Heerao Singh,o whicho ledo too theo recoveryo ofo 10,000o tabletso ofo Tramadol,o alongo witho theo arresto ofo Heerao Singh.oo o

4.o That,oduringocourseoofoinvestigation,oitocomesotoolightothatosomeoofo

o o o o 12o o Recoveredo medicineso wereo manufacturedo byo IKONo Pharmaceuticals,o DehradunoandomarketedobyoEmbitoBiooMedix,oPoantaoSahib.oAnoinquiryowaso conductedoatotheopremisesoofoM/soEmbitoBiooMedix,owhichowasofoundotoobeo aosingle-shutteroshop.oTheoproprietor,oofoM/soEmbitoBiooMedixopetitioner,o wasoissuedoaonoticeounderoSectiono67oofotheoNDPSoAct,o1985odirectingohimo toorecordohisostatement.oTheonoticeowasoalsooaffixedotootheoshutteroofotheo premises;ohowever,opetitionerodidonotorespond.oAdditionaloinquiriesowereo madeoatopetitioneroresidenceoinoBurari,oDelhi,owhereoitowasodiscoveredothato petitionerowasoalsoooperatingoanotherofirm,oAashioPharmaceuticals,olocatedo inoBhawana,oDelhi.oItoisopertinentotoomentionohereothatosecondonoticeoundero Sectiono67oofotheoNDPSoActowasoissuedoandoservedotoopetitionerofather,o MahenderoPal,odespiteotwoonoticesobeingoissuedotoopetitionerounderoSectiono 67o ofo theo NDPSo Act,o heo failedo too appear.o Consequently,o ao Look-Outo Circularo(LOC)owasoissuedoinohisoname.oo o

5.o Thato duringo investigationo ito waso revealedo thato M/so Aashio PharmaceuticalsowasolicensedoinotheonameoofoDeepakoRam,owhooworkedoforo petitioneroandoallotheoactivityorelatedotoopurchaseoandosellowereomanagedobyo petitioner.o Ao largeo quantityo ofo NRxo medicineo waso foundo storedo ato theo premiseso ofo Aashio Pharmaceuticals.o Wheno Deepako Ramo waso askedo too produceotheorelevantodocumentsorelatedotootheostoredomedicines,oheofailedotoo dooso,ocitingothatoallosuchodocumentsowereoinopossessionoofotheopetitioner.o Theo petitionero waso thereaftero formallyo notifiedo byo officialo mailo ando waso instructedotooprovideotheorequestedodocumentation.oo o

6.o Thatoono18.04.2025,otheoBureauoofoImmigration,oDelhioinformedotheo officeothatopetitionerohadobeenodetainedoatoIGIoAirport.oTheoNCBoTeamowento too theo airport,o whereo petitionero waso handedo overo byo theo immigrationo authorities.oAovoluntaryostatementoofopetitionerowasorecordedounderoSectiono 67oofotheoNDPSoAct,oinowhichoheoadmittedothatoheohadoopenedoM/soAashio PharmaceuticalsounderoDeepakoRam'sonameotooconcealohisoinvolvementoaftero theoDelhioDrugoAuthorityorevokedotheolicenseoofohisopreviousobusiness,oM/so EmbitoBiooMedix,odueotooitsoconnectionowithotraffickingoNRxomedicine.o Petitonero alsoo confessedo thato heo re-establishedo M/so Embito Bioo Medixo ino PoantaoSahib,oHimachaloPradesh,ohidingotheocancellationoofohisopreviouso license.oHeofurtheroadmittedothatoheoopenedoM/soAashioPharmaceuticalsoino DeepakoRam'sonameotooillegallyoselloNRxomedicinesoforoprofit.oo o

7.o Thato theo petitioner,o fearingo apprehension,o attemptedo too fleeo too Vietnamotooevadeolegaloconsequences.oBasedoonohisovoluntaryostatement,oheo wasoarrestedounderoSectionso8oando22oofotheoNDPSoActoono18.04.2025.oOno

20.04.2025,otheoNCBoTeamoconductedoaosearchooperationoatotheopremisesoofo M/soEmbitoBiooMedixoandorecoveredo19,25,200oTramadolotablets.oAofollow-upo actiono waso alsoo carriedo outo ato M/so Aashio Pharmaceuticals,o whereo additionalo seizureo ofo 8328460o tabletso ofo Tramadol,o 2966400o tabletso ofo Alprazolamoando424200otabletsoofoZolpidemowereoseized.o o

8.o ThatofurtheroinvestigationorevealedothatoRishioMishra,oaomanageroato M/soEmbitoBiooMedix,owasoarrestedoinoconnectionotootheoFIRoNo.o468/24oforo hisoinvolvementoinotraffickingoNRxomedicine.oInohisovoluntaryostatement,o MishraorevealedothatoheosoldoNRxomedicineotooaofirmocalledoLaxmioPharmao inoorderotooobtainodocumentsorelatedotootheosale.oHowever,oLaxmioPharmao subsequentlyosoldotheoNRxomedicineotoounauthorizedopersonsonamelyoRishio Mishra,owithotheoentireotrailoleadingobackotoopetitioneroandoheowasosellingotheo

o o o o 13o o NrxomedicineotooblackomarketowithohelpoofoRishioMishra,oVimaloPandayoando other."o o

5.4.o o Learnedocounseloforotheorespondento–oNCBohasofiledoreplyodatedo

15.11.2025oonobehalfoofotheorespondent,oinotheoCourtotoday,owhichoisotakenoono record.oRaisingosubmissionsoinotandemowithotheosaidoreply,oheohasoarguedothato theoroleoofotheopetitionero(ArjunoSingh)oreadsothus:o "9o.Thatotheopetitioner'somarketingocompanyonameoLifeoCareoPharmaofirsto timeocameointooknowledgeowithotheoseizureoofo10.000/-otabletsoofoClovedall-o 100o SRo Tabletso containingo tramadolo undero Panchnamao datedo

12.12.2024(attachedo aso Pageo noo 216o too 223o ino complainto ofo NCBo AZUo crimeono.o51/2024)ofromotheopossessionoofoaccusedoHeeraoSinghowhereoito cameotooknowledgeothatotheoaboveoseizedotabletsowasomanufacturedobyoJ.R.o Pharmao Haridwaro ando Marketedo byo Lifeo Careo Pharma,o Kolkatao ando manufacturingo dateo Novembero 2024o ando expiryo dateo iso Octobero 2026.o DuringocourseoofoinvestigationoitowasorevealedothatoLifeoCareoPharmaoiso havingo registeredo addresso iso Kiranao Storeo Ground,o Groundo Floor,o 80/2,o TiljalaoRoad,oKushtia,oKolkata,oWestoBengal,o700039.oo o

10.oThatoduringocourseoofoinvestigationoaoletterodatedo15.01.2025(enclosedo herewitho aso Annexureo R/9)o waso writteno too Additionalo Directoro Kolkatao Zonalo Unito regardingo seizureo ofo 10,000o tabletso marketedo byo Lifeo Careo Pharma.o Ito iso furthero submittedo thato ino connectiono witho NCBo crimeo noo 04/2025overificationoconductedobyoNCBoKolkataoZonalounitoregardingoaboveo companyoLifeoCareoPharmaoatohisogivenoaddress,oitocameotoolightothereowaso noo sucho companyo ato theo giveno addresso ando ono furthero enquiryo ito waso revealedothatoaboveocompanyowasomovedoapprox.osixomonthsoagoofromotheo dateoofo10.04.2025oandothereowasonooclueoaboutotheowhereaboutsoofothiso company.(letteroofoKolkataoZonalounitowasoattached).oItoisofurtherosubmittedo thatohugeoquantityoofotramadolotabletsomanufacturedobyoJ.R.oPharmaoforolifeo careoPharmaohadobeenodeliveredoonotheoaboveoaddressodespiteotheofactothato theo aboveo addresso waso noto physicallyo existedo fromo sixo monthso fromo

10.04.2025o ono theo saido addresso ofo Lifeo Careo Pharmao whicho iso alsoo confirmedobyotheoowneroofotheosaidopremisesoandowhichoclearlyoindicateso thatodeliveryoofoentireomedicineowasonotodeliveredotootheosaidoaddressobuto wasodoneoatodifferentolocationsowithotheoconnivanceoofomanufactureroasowello asopetitioneroforodivertingotheosameoinoillegalodrugomarket.oSomeodocumentso likeo Purchasingo order,o E-wayo bill,o Invoiceo ando biltyattachedo herewitho aso AnnexureoR/8)oclearlyoindicatesothatodeliberateodeliveryoofoNrxomedicineo includingo tramadolo waso doneo ato oldo addresso ie.o Kiranao Storeo Ground,o GroundoFloor,o80/2,oTiljalaoRoad,oKushtia,oKolkata,oWestoBengal,o700039o illegallyoforodivertingotheomedicineodespiteotheofactotheoaboveofirmovacatedo theoplaceomuchobeforeotheodelivery.oo o

11.oTheopetitionerodisclosedoinohisovoluntaryostatementodatedo23.05.2025oando

24.05.2025othatoheohasoillegallyopurchasedoapprox.ooneocroreoseventyolakhso tramadolotabletso fromoJ.R.oPharmaoandosoldotheosameoinodifferento eithero fictitiouso oro inactiveo firmso basedo ino delhi,o Jodhpur,o Jaipur,o Lucknow,o Kolkata,o Bhilwarao ino ordero too diverto theo sameo foro makingo moreo money.o AboveobasedofirmolikeoRVoPharma,oShyamoPharma,oMahalaxmioPharma,o

o o o o 14o o Wello worldo Pharmaceuticals,o Careo firsto Pharmacy,o RDo Distributors,o BluebergoPtoItdoeteoareounderoinvestigationoandothereoareomoreoconspiratorso likelyotoobeoarrestedoifoanyoinocomingodays.oArjunoSinghofurtherodisclosedoino hisostatementodatedo24.05.2025othatoheohasosubmittedodocumentoregardingoofo illegalosaleopurchaseoofotramadoloinoNCBoCaseoNo.o04/2025.(Pageono.o431otoo 435oofocomplaintoofoNCBocaseono.o51/2024)oo o

12.oThatotheotraffickingochainoofoillegalomedicineoisoveryobigoandoitocapturedo manyostatesoandomanyowhiteoandoblueocollaropersonsoareoinvolvedoinothiso racketowhichoareooperatingotheoentireoillegalobusinessounderoeitheroveryobasico minimumo legalo requirementso acquiredo byo fakeo documentso oro fictitiouso addressesoforokeepingohimselfoawayofromotheoeyeoofolaw.oo o

13.oThatotheocaseoinvolvesocommercialoquantityoofodrugs.oItohasobeenoprimao facieoestablishedothatoaccusedoArjunoSinghohasosoldoTramadolotabletso1ocroreo ando70olakhsoinonumbers.oHeopurchasedotheseopsychotropicodrugsofromoJRo pharmaoandosoldotoomanyofictitiousofirmsoillegally.oThisonotoonlyoviolativeoofo theo provisionso ofo theo NDPSo acto howevero alsoo grosslyo damagingo foro theo societyoasoaowhole.oResultantlyoapplicantocontravenedotheoprovisionsoofoSeco 8,22,25,o27-A,o29,o35,o54o&o60oofoNDPSoact.oHisoguiltoisoestablishedobeyondo reasonableodoubtoandoaccordinglyohisobailoapplicationovideonumbero4782oofo 2025oisodismissedobyotheoHon'bleoNDPSocourtoAmritsarovideoorderodatedo 11/08/25.oo o

14.oThatoasoperotheodisclosureostatementoaccusedohasosoldotheocontrabando psychotropicomedicineotooRVopharma,oKalyanpur,oDelhi,oShyamoPharma,o Bhilwara,oRajasthan,oMahalakshmiopharma,oJodhpur,oRajasthan,owelloworldo pharmaceuticals,o Jaipur,o Rajasthan,o Careo firsto pharmacy,o Lucknow,o RDo distributors,oJodhpur,oRajasthan,oBluebergoPvtoLtd,oBadaoBazaar,oKolkata.o Accusedo fullyo awareo ofo theo facto thato sellingo contrabando psychotropico medicinesotootheseofirmsowilloresultoinospreadingowidespreadoabuseoofoNRXo medicines.oSomeoofotheseofirmsoareonon-GSTocompliantoapartofromotheofacto thatooneofirmonamelyoRVoPharmaogotohisolicenceocancelledodueotooillegalo traflickingoofotramadol.oOthersoaboveomentionedofirmsoareounderoscanningo andoinvestigationoinothisoregardoisogoingoonoandoaccordinglyosupplementaryo complaintowillobeofiledoinodueocourseoofotime.oo o

15.oThatoduringotheocourseoofotheoinvestigationoitohasobeenoestablishedothato theo someo ofo theo recoveredo medicineo waso manufacturedo byo JRo Pharmao HaridwarowhoseoowneroisoRamoKewaloandomarketedobyoLifeocareoPharma.,o Kolkata,owhoseoowneroisoArjunoSingh.oTheopresentoaccusedoisoalsooaccusedo inoanotheroNCBocrimeocaseo04/2025.oThisofactothatoheoisoalreadyoinojudicialo PharmaocustodyoinoanotheroNCBocrimeocaseo04/2025oandothatohisostatemento wasorecordedobyotheoIOounderoSeco67oofotheoNDPSoAct,o1985.oAccusedohado criminaloantecedentsoandothatohisopleaoofofalseoimplicationoisowithoutomerito andohasonoolegalobasis.oo o 16o Thato aso pero theo Panchnamao datedo 11/12/2024o whereino 20o packetso ofo clovedolo (Tramadolo hydrochlorideo 100o mg)o ino totalo 10,000o tabletso ofo TramadolowereoseizedofromoaccusedoHeeraosinghoS/OosardaroCharanosingh.o Allotheseoseizedopsychotropicocontrabandodrugsowereomanufacturedoinotheo monthoofoNovemberoandoDecembero2024obyoJRopharma,oHaridwarowhoseo owneroisoRamokewaloandomarketedobyoLifeocareoPharmaowhoseoowneroiso petitionero himself.o Thus,o theo contentiono ofo theo accusedo thato thereo iso noo

o o o o 15o o recoveryofromohimowillobeoofonooavailoandotheooffenceoofotraffickingohaso beenoprimaofacieoestablishedoagainstotheopetitioner."o o

5.5.o o Raisingosubmissionsoinotandemowithotheoreplyodatedo11.11.2025,o alreadyoonorecord,olearnedocounseloforotheorespondento–oNCBohasoarguedothato theoroleoofotheopetitionero(NaveenoGupta),oisoasounder:o "(a)oevidenceoagainstotheopetitioner'so(b)oroleoofotheopetitioner.o(a)oEvidenceo againstotheopetitioner:-oItoisosubmittedothatotheopetitioneronameocameoduringo investigationofirstotimeoinostatementoofoaccusedono.o6,oHarshoKumaroasoHarsho KumarostatedothatoheoalongowithohisofriendoVarunoKumarousedotootakeoillegalo Tramadolo medicineso ando othero NRxo medicineso fromo oneo persono namedo ManishoKumarowhooisotheobrotheroofoNaveenoKumaro(Petitioner)oandobotho areorunningowelfareoMedicosoandowelfareomedicalostoreoinoKatraoSheroSingh,o Amritsaro ando accusedo no.o 6o Harsho Kumaro tooko theo teamo too theo aboveo addresseso buto Manisho Kumaro abscondedo fromo theo placeo aftero seeingo theo teamo buto Naveeno Kumaro (Petitioner)o waso available.o Ono enquiryo witho NaveenoKumaro(Petitioner),oheoacceptedoinohisostatementoaboutocomplicityo ofotraffickingoofoillegaloTramadolotabletsoandootheroNRxomedicinesowithotheo helpo ofo Manisho Kumar.o Furthero investigationo revealedo thato botho Naveeno (Petitioner)oandoManishowereoalsooearlieroinvolvedoinotraffickingoofoNRxo medicines,o ando 13230o tabletso wereo recoveredo ando FIRo registeredo aso 177/2021obyoKathunangaloPoliceostation,oAmritsaroandopresentlyobothowereo onobail.oDuringocourseoofofurtheroinvestigationostatementoofoowneroofotheo shopoWelfareoMedicosoandoWelfareoMedicalostore,oBisanoDasoS/ooAmarnatho wereotakenoandoinowhichoheorevealedothatoNaveenoGuptaospento20olakhso RupeesoforoacquiringooneoshopoWelfareoMedicos,obutoagreementoofoshopo wasopreparedoinotheonameoofoManishoKumar.oNaveenoGuptaoinohisostatemento alsoorevealedothatoheospentoapprox.o80olakhoRupeeoforopurchasingomedicineo foroaboveowelfareoMedicos.oTillodateoeitheroNaveenoGuptaooroManishoKumaro didonotoprovideotheosourceoofo1ocroreoRupeesowhichoindicatesothatotheoaboveo amountowasoearnedooutoofodrugomoney.oTheoowneroofotheoshopoBisanoDaso furtherodisclosedothatoduringoabscondingoofoManishoKumaro(paperoowneroofo WelfareoMedicos)oheoisogettingoeveryomonthorentoofoWelfareoMedicosofromo ShwetaoGupta,owifeoofoManishoGupta.oo b)oTheostatementoofoNaveenoGupta,oManishoKumar,oBisanoDasoandofinanceso involvedoinotheorunningobothotheoshops,opreviousoantecedents,oFIRoinodrugo caseo areo substantialo proofo ofo involvemento ofo Naveeno Guptao ino drugo Trafficking.o c)oRoleoofoNaveenoGupta:o-oNaveenoGuptaoisoaomasteromindoandorunningo illegalotraffickingoofoTramadolotabletsowithotheohelpoofoorowithohisoassociateso ManishoKumarowhoowasohisoemployeeoandogettingosalaryoonlyo12000oRsopero montho(asoperostatementoofoNaveenoGupta).o Financialo conditiono ofo theo Manisho Kumaro iso alsoo justifiedo byo hiso banko statementsoandoITRofiled.oNaveenoGuptaousedoManishoKumaroasoaodummyo persono too runo illegalo traffickingo ofo Tramadolo tabletso ando investedo hugeo amounto ofo moneyo approx.o 1o croreo Rupeeso foro purchasingo ao shopo ando medicinesoinotheonameoofoManishoKumar,oaccordinglyoheohasodoneooffenseo u/so8,o22,o27A,o29oandootheroofoNDPSoact.o o

13.oThatosinceoaohugeocommercialoquantityoofoNarcotics,owhichoisoaodreadfulo crimeoagainstotheosociety,oasowelloasotheostateothatoaffectsotheoIndianoyoutho

o o o o 16o o nowoaodayoveryobadlyoandoPunjaboinoparticularowhichohaveolostogenerationso ofoyouthotootheoabuseoofoNarcoticoDrugsoandoPsychotropicoSubstances.oSo,o keepingoinoviewotheofactsoofotheopresentocaseoandoprevailingosituationoinotheo country,o theo accusedo smuggledo hugeo quantityo ofo narcotico (psychotropico medicine)o etc.o ando theo saido consignmento waso meanto too boosto anti-socialo elementsowhoodisturbotheosecurityoofotheostateowhichoisotoobeowatchedobyotheo Courtsopreferredoasocomparedotootheoliabilityoofoanoindividual.oItoisoaocrimeo againstotheoStateoandopublicofaithomayonotobeoshakenoinotheojudicialosystemo byoallowingotheoaccusedotoomoveofreelyoinoourosocietyowhooisocharged.o o

14.oThatotheorecoveryoinotheopresentocaseoisoaocommercialoquantityoandoiso coveredounderosectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct.oTheocaseocomesounderotheostricto provisionso ofo sectiono 37o ofo theo Acto aso faro aso theo provisiono ofo bailo iso concerned.oTheopetitionerowasoworkingoinoaoveryoplannedomannerowithoothero co-accusedoandoinocaseobailoisograntedotootheopetitioner,oheoshalloindulgeoino similaroactivitiesoasoheohasoinodepthoexperienceoofotheoillegalotrade."o o

5.6.o o Raisingosubmissionsoinotandemowithotheoreplyodatedo02.09.2025,o alreadyoonorecord,olearnedocounseloforotheorespondento–oNCBohasoarguedothato theo petitionero (Sonuo Singh)o waso implicatedo ono theo basiso ofo disclosureo ofo SukhpaloSinghoandorecoveryoofo11,400otabletsoofoTramadoloando9,600otabletso ofoAlprazolamowasoeffectedofromohim.oSonuoSinghorevealedothatoheohadobeeno receivingodeliveriesofromoVarunoKumaroandohisoassociate,oHarshoKumar.oo

5.7.o o Raisingosubmissionsoinotandemowithotheoreplyodatedo28.09.2025,o alreadyoonorecord,olearnedocounseloforotheorespondento–oNCBohasoarguedothato onosecretoinformation,oaosearchowasoconductedoatotheohouseoofotheopetitionero (Sukhpal)oandorecoveryoofo2,880otabletsoofoAlprazolamoando1,220otabletsoofo Tramadolowasoeffected.oDuringointerrogation,otheopetitioneroadmittedothatotheo seizedocontrabandobelongoHarvinderoSinghoandofurtherodisclosedothatoaolargeo quantityoofoillicit/orestrictedomedicinesowasostoredoatotheohouseoofoHarvindero Singh,owhichocorroboratedotheosecretoinformation.oFurther,oonotheosearchoofo houseoofoHarvinderoSingh,ofurtherorecoveryoofo32,250otablesoofoTramadolowaso effected.o Sukhpalo alsoo disclosedo theo nameo ofo oneo Sonuo Singho ando upono

o o o o 17o o search,o11,400otabletsoofoTramadoloando9,600otabletsoofoAlprazolamowasoalsoo recovered.oo

5.8.o o Raisingosubmissionsoinotandemowithotheoreplyodatedo11.11.2025,o alreadyoonorecord,olearnedocounseloforotheorespondento–oNCBohasoarguedothato theopetitionero(HarshoKumar)ohadoadmittedothatoheohadobeenomakingodeliverieso ofopsychotropicomedicinesounderotheodirectionsoofoVarunoKumar.oHeousedotoo procureoallopsychotropicomedicinesofromoWelfareoMedicaloStoreo&oWelfareo Medicos,olocatedoinoKatraoSheroSinghoMarket,oAmritsar,owhichoisoownedobyo ManishoKumaroandoNaveenoKumar.oNoticeounderoSectiono67oofotheoNDPSoActo wasoissuedotooNaveenoKumar,oinowhichoheoadmittedotooowningotheoWelfareo MedicaloStore.oHeohadoopenedotheoshoponamedoWelfareoMedicosoforoManisho Kumaro ando hado paido allo expenseso foro theo shop.o Admittedly,o Naveeno acknowledgedo thato FIRo 177/2021o hado beeno registeredo againsto Naveeno ando Manisho Kumaro byo Kathuo Nangalo policeo ino whicho 13,230o psychotropico medicineotabletsowereorecoveredofromohim.oo

5.9.o o Apartofromoabove,olearnedocounseloforotheorespondento–oNCBohaso arguedothatohugeonarcoticsocontrabandohasobeenorecovered,oinotheopresentocase,o ando theo same,o beingo commercialo ino nature,o fallso undero theo provisionso ofo Sectiono 37o ofo theo NDPSo Act.o Learnedo counselo haso furthero submittedo thato petitionsoinohandoareobarredobyotheorigorsoofoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoActoando are,othus,oliableotoobeorejectedoonothisoscoreoalone.oInocase,otheopetitioner(s)oareo releasedo ono bail,o thereo iso allo likelihoodo thato theyo mayo abscondo fromo theo processoofojusticeoandoalsoointerfereowithotheoprosecutionoevidence/owitnesses.o LearnedoStateocounseloseeksotooplaceoonorecordocustodyocertificate(s)odatedo

o o o o 18o o

08.08.22026o (petitioner-Aashisho Verma),o datedo 11.02.2026o (petitioner-Kaushik),o datedo 08.02.2026o (petitioner-Manpreeto Singh),o datedo 08.02.2026o (petitioner-ArjunoSingh)oandodatedo08.02.2026o(NaveenoGupta),oinotheoCourto today,owhichoareotakenoonorecord.oTheocustodyocertificate(s)odatedo17.11.2025o (petitioner-Sukhpalo Singh),o datedo 09.09.2025o (Harsho Kumar)o ando datedo

20.08.2025o(SonuoSingh)oareoalreadyoonorecord.ooo

6.o o Iohaveoheardocounseloforotheorivalopartiesoandoperusedotheopaper-bookoasoalsootheorecordoproducedobeforeome.oo

7.o o Beforeodelvingofurtherointootheomeritsoofotheocase,oitowouldobeo appositeotooreferohereinotootheofollowingocase-lawogermaneotootheomatter(s)oino issue:o

i)o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoUnionoofoIndiao versusoNamdeooAshrubaoNakade,oSpecialoLeaveotooAppealo(Crl.)o No.9792/2025,ohasoheldoasounder:o "8.oo ThisoCourtoisoofotheoviewothatotheoissueoofosubstanceoabuseo haso emergedo aso ao globalo publico healtho crisiso ino theo twenty-firsto century,oaffectingoeveryocountryoworldwide,oasodrugotraffickingoando addictiono haveo becomeo pervasive.o Theo Unitedo Nationso Officeo ono DrugsoandoCrimeo(UNODC)oreportedoinoitso2025oWorldoDrugoReporto thato "Aso ato 2023,o someo 316o milliono peopleo worldwideo hado usedo drugsoinotheopastoyear,orepresentingoanoincreaseooverotheopastodecadeo thato outpaceso populationo growth,o whicho indicateso ao highero prevalenceoofodrugouse."oo

9.oo InoIndia,othereohasobeenoaoconcerningoincreaseoinodrugoabuseo amongo theo youth.o Substanceo abuseo noto onlyo affectso individuals,o families,oandocommunitiesobutoalsoounderminesovariousoaspectsoofo healthoincludingophysical,osocial,opolitical,oculturalofoundations,oando mentalo well-being.o (See:o "Bhattacharyao S,o Menono GS,o Gargo S,o GroveroA,oSaleemoSM,oKushwahaoP.oTheolingeringomenaceoofodrugo abuseo amongo theo Indiano youtho –o it'so timeo foro action.o Indiano Jo CommunityoMedo2025;50:S9-12,opublishedoono17thoApril,o2025")oo

10.oo Accordingotoomanyonewsoreports,oIndiaofacesoaoclearodilemmao betweenotacklingotheonarcoticsocrisisosystematicallyoorosacrificingoitso mostovaluableoresourceoi.e.oitsoyoungopeople.oTheoextentoofomenaceo ofodrugoabuseohasoalsoobeenohighlightedobyothisoCourtoinotheocaseoofo AnkushoVipanoKapoorov.oNationaloInvestigationoAgency,o(2025)o5o SCCo155owhereinothisoCourtohasoobservedoasounder:oo

o o o o 19o o "9.1oo Theo illso ofo drugo abuseo seemo too beo shadowingo theo lengthoandobreadthoofoourocountryowithotheoCentraloandoeveryo StateoGovernmentofightingoagainstotheomenaceoofosubstanceo abuse.oTheodebilitatingoimpactoofodrugotradeoandodrugoabuseo isoanoimmediateoandoseriousoconcernoforoIndia.oAsotheoglobeo grappleso witho theo menaceo ofo escalatingo Substanceo Useo Disorderso("SUD")oandoanoeveroaccessibleodrugomarket,otheo consequencesoleaveoaogenerationaloPageo75oofo84oimprintoono publicohealthoandoevenonationalosecurity.oArticleo47oofotheo ConstitutionomakesoitoaodutyoofotheoStateotooregardotheoraisingo ofo theo levelo ofo nutritiono ando theo standardo ofo livingo ofo itso peopleoandotheoimprovementoofopublicohealthoasoamongoitso primaryodutiesoandoinoparticularotheoStateoshalloendeavourotoo bringo abouto prohibitiono ofo theo consumptiono excepto foro medicinalopurposesoofointoxicatingodrinksoandoofodrugsowhicho areo injuriouso too health.o Theo Stateo haso ao responsibilityo too addresso theo rooto causeso ofo thiso predicamento ando developo effectiveo interventiono strategieso too ensureo thato India'so youngero population,o whicho iso particularlyo vulnerableo too substanceoabuse,oisoprotectedoandosavedofromosuchomenace.o Thiso iso particularlyo becauseo substanceo abuseo iso linkedo too socialo problemso ando cano contributeo too childo maltreatment,o spousaloviolence,oandoevenopropertyocrimeoinoaofamily."oo

11.oo Ino theo presento case,o thiso Courto findso thato thougho theo Respondent-accusedowasoinocustodyoforooneoyearofouromonthsoando chargeso haveo noto beeno framed,o yeto theo allegationso areo seriouso inasmucho aso noto onlyo iso theo recoveryo mucho ino excesso ofo theo commercialoquantityobutotheoRespondent-accusedoallegedlyogototheo cavitieso ingeniouslyo fabricatedo belowo theo trailoro too concealo theo contraband.oo

12.oo PrimaofacieothisoCourtoisoofotheoopinionothatotheoRespondent-accusedo iso involvedo ino drugo traffickingo ino ano organizedo manner.o Consequently,onoocaseoforodispensingowithomandatoryorequiremento ofoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoActoisomadeooutoinotheopresentomatter.oo

13.oo Moreover,othisoCourtoisoofotheoviewothatoasotheoaccusedohaso beeno chargedo witho offenceso punishableo witho teno too twentyo yearso rigorousoimprisonment,oitocannotobeosaidothatotheoRespondentohaso beenoincarceratedoforoanounreasonablyolongotime."o o

ii)o Further,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoUniono ofoIndiaoversusoViginoK.oVarghese,oSpecialoLeaveoPetitiono(Crl.)o No(s).7768oofo2025,ohasoheldoasounder:o "15.oo Ato thiso stage,o twoo featureso stando out.o Theo Higho Court'so conclusionothatothereoisonoomaterialotooshowothatotheoapplicantohado anyoknowledgeoofotheococaineoinotheoconsignmentohasobeenoarrivedoato withouto discussiono ofo theo statementso ofo theo respondento ando circumstanceso reliedo upono byo theo prosecution,o includingo theo assertiono thato theo respondento hado placedo theo orderso foro import,o controlledo theo logisticso chain,o coordinatedo witho theo overseaso supplier,oandowasopresentowhenotheoconsignmentowasoopened.oTheo HighoCourtohasonotoexaminedowhetherothoseocircumstances,otakenoato

o o o o 20o o faceovalueoforotheolimitedopurposeoofobail,ocouldoprimaofacieoindicateo consciouso controlo oro involvemento sufficiento too attracto theo presumptionoofoculpableomentalostateoindicatedounderoSectiono35oofo theoNDPSoAct.oo

16.oo Further,o whileo grantingo bail,otheoHighoCourto recordedothato thereowereonooantecedentsoagainstotheoapplicant.oTheomaterialobeforeo thisoCourtoincludesotheoUnion'soassertionothatotheorespondentohado alreadyobeenoapprehendedoinoconnectionowithoanoearlieroseizureoofo approximatelyo 198.1o kilogramso ofo Methamphetamineo ando 9.035o kilogramsoofoCocaineoallegedlyoimportedothroughotheosameochannelo onlyo dayso beforeo theo presento seizure.o Thato assertiono iso neithero noticedonoroansweredoinotheoimpugnedoorders.oo

17.oo Theo Higho Courto then,o ono theo strengtho ofo thoseo premises,o recordedoaofindingothatothereoexistoreasonableogroundsotoobelieveothato theoapplicantoisonotoguiltyoofotheoallegedooffence,otreatingoprolongedo incarcerationoandolikelyodelayoasotheojustificationoforobail.oSuchoao findingoisonotoaocasualoobservation.oItoisotheostatutoryothresholdoundero Sectiono37(1)(b)(ii)owhichowouldodisentitleotheodiscretionaryoreliefo andograntoofobailomustonecessarilyorestoonocarefuloappraisaloofotheo materialoavailable.oAoconclusionoofothisonature,oiforeturnedowithouto addressingo theo prosecution'so assertionso ofo operativeo controlo ando antecedento involvement,o riskso trenchingo upono appreciationo ofo evidenceo whicho wouldo beo ino theo domaino ofo trialo courto ato firsto instance."o o

iii)o Thiso Courto ino theo caseo ofo Jaswindero Singho aliaso Kalao versuso Stateo ofo Punjab,o passedo ino CRM-M-33729-2025oversuso Stateo ofo Punjab, CRM 33729 2025o (2025:PHHC:089161)o =o 2025o SCCo OnLineo P&H4537;o aftero relyingouponotheoratioodecidendioofotheojudgmentsoofotheoHon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Uniono ofo Indiao vs.o Thamisharasio &o Ors,o 1995(4)oSCCo190,oCustoms,oNewoDelhiovs.oAhmadalievaoNodira,o 2004o(3)oSCCo549,oUnionoofoIndiaovs.oShrioShivoShankeroKesari,o 2007(4)oRCR(Criminal)o186,oSatpaloSinghovs.oStateoofoPunjab,o 2018o (13)o SCCo 813,o Narcoticso Controlo Bureauo vs.o Mohito Aggarwal,o2022oLiveLawo(SC)o613,oMohd.oMuslimo@oHussaino vs.o Stateo (NCTo ofo Delhi)o 2023o LiveLawo (SC)o 260,o Narcoticso Controlo Bureauo vs.o Kashif,o 2024o INSCo 1045,o Usmanbhaio Dawoodbhaio Memono vs.o Stateo ofo Gujarat,o 1988(1)o

o o o o 21o o RCR(Criminal)o540,oRanjitsingoBrahmajeetsingoSharmaovs.oStateo ofoMaharashtrao&oAnr.o2005(5)oSCCo294,oCentraloBureauoofo Investigationovs.oVs.oVijayoSaioReddy,o2013(3)oRCRo(Criminal)o 252,oMunicipaloCorporationoofoDelhiovs.oM/soJaganoNathoAshoko Kumaro ando another,o 1987(4)o SCCo 497,o Gujarato Watero Supplyo andoSewerageoBoardovs.oUniqueoErectorso(Gujarat)o(P)oLtd.,oando another,o 1987(1)o SCCo 532,o Collectoro ando otherso vs.o P.o Mangammao ando others,o 2003(4)o SCCo 488,o Commissionero ofo Income-tax,oDelhiovs.oS.oTejaoSingh,o1958oSCCoOnlineoSCo30,o Managemento ofo Advanceo Insuranceo Co.o Ltd.o Vs.o Shrio Gurudasmalo ando otherso 1970(1)o SCCo 633,o Tinsukhiao Electrico Supplyo Co.o Ltd.o Vs.o Stateo ofo Assam,o 1989(3)o SCCo 709o ando Commissionero ofo Incomeo Taxo vs.o Hindustano Bulko Carriers,o 2003(3)oSCCo57;ohasoheld,othus:oo "14.o o Asoaosequiturotooabove-saidorumination,otheofollowingo postulatesoemerge:o

(I)o (i)o Aobailopleaoonomerits;oinorespectoofoanoFIRounderoNDPSoActo ofo 1985o involvingo offence(s)o undero Sectiono 19o oro Sectiono 24o oro Sectiono 27-Ao thereofo ando foro offence(s)o involvingo commercialo quantity;oisoessentiallyorequiredotoomeetowithotheorigour(s)oofoSectiono 37oofoNDPSoAct.ooo o o (ii)oo Theorigour(s)oofoSectiono37oofoNDPSoActodoonotoapplyotooao bailoplea(s)oonomedicaloground(s),ointerimobailoonoaccountoofoanyo exigencyoincludingotheoreasonoofodemiseoofoaocloseofamilyorelativeo etc.o o o o (iii)o Theorigour(s)oofoSectiono37oofoNDPSoActopaleointooobliviono whenobailoisosoughtoforoonoaccountoofolongoincarcerationoinoviewoofo Articleo21oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoi.e.owhereotheobail-applicanto hasosufferedolongounder-trialocustody,otheotrialoisoprocrastinatingoando follyothereofoisonotoattributableotoosuchobail-applicant.ooo o II.o TheotwinoconditionsocontainedoinoSectiono37(1)(b)oofoNDPSoActoareo inoadditionotootheoconditions/parametersocontainedoinoCr.P.C./BNSSo oroanyootheroapplicableoextantolaw.oo o

o o o o 22o o III.o TheotwinoconditionsocontainedoinoSectiono37(1)(b)oofoNDPSoActoareo cumulativeoinonatureoandonotoalternativeoi.e.obothotheoconditionsoareo requiredotoobeosatisfiedoforoaobail-pleaotoobeosuccessful.ooo o IV.o ForoconsiderationobyobailoCourtoofotheoconditionostipulatedoinoSectiono 37(1)(b)(i)o ofo NDPSo Acto i.e.o "thereo areo reasonableo groundso foro believingothatoheoisonotoguiltyoofosuchooffence":o o

(i)o TheobailoCourtooughtotoosiftothroughoallorelevantomaterial,o includingo case-dairy,o exclusivelyo foro theo limitedo purposeo ofo adjudicatingosuchobailoplea.o o

(ii)o Sucho consideration,o concerningo theo assessmento ofo guilto oro innocence,oshouldonotomirrorotheosameodegreeoofoscrutinyorequiredo foro ano acquittalo ofo theo accusedo ato theo finalo adjudicationo &o culminationoofotrial.oo o

(iii)o Plea(s)o ofo defenceo byo applicant-accused,o ifo any,o includingo material/documentsoinosupportothereof,omayobeolookedointoobyotheo bail-Courtowhileoadjudicatingosuchobailoplea.ooo o V.o ForoconsiderationoofotheoconditionostipulatedoinoSectiono37(1)(b)(ii)o i.e.o'heoisonotolikelyotoocommitoanyooffenceowhileoonobail':o

(i)o Theo wordo 'likely'o oughto too beo interpretedo aso requiringo ao demonstrableoandosubstantialoprobabilityoofore-offendingobyotheobail-applicant,oratherothanoaomereotheoreticaloone,oasonooCourtocanopredicto futureoconductoofotheobail-applicant.oo o

(ii)o Theo entireo factualo matrixo ofo ao giveno caseo includingo theo antecedentso ofo theo bail-applicant,o roleo ascribedo too him,o ando theo natureo ofo offenceo areo requiredo too beo delvedo into.o o However,o theo involvementoofobail-applicantoinoanotheroNDPS/otherooffenceocannoto ipsoofactooresultoinotheoconclusionoofohisopropensityoforocommittingo offenceoinotheofuture.o o

(iii)o Theo bail-Courto may,o ato theo timeo ofo grantingo bail,o imposeo uponotheoapplicant-accusedoaoconditionothatoheowouldosubmit,oatosucho regularotimeoperiod/intervaloasomayostipulatedobyotheoCourtograntingo bail,o ano affidavito beforeo concernedo Specialo Judgeo ofo NDPSo Court/Illaqao (Jurisdictional)o Judicialo Magistrate/concernedo Policeo Station,otootheoeffectothatoheohasonotobeenoinvolvedoinocommissionoofo anyooffenceoafterobeingoreleasedoonobail.ooInotheofactsoofoaogivenocase,o impositionoofosuchoconditionomayobeoconsideredotoobeosufficientoforo satisfactionoofoconditionoenumeratedoinoSectiono37(1)(b)(ii).ooo o VI.oo Thereoisonoogainsayingothatotheonature,omodeoandoextentoofoexerciseo ofopowerobyoaoCourt;owhileosatisfyingoitselforegardingotheoconditionso stipulatedoinoSectiono37oofoNDPSoAct;oshallodependouponotheojudicialo discretionoexercisedobyosuchoCourtoinotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofo aogivenocase.oNooexhaustiveoguidelinesocanopossiblyobeolaidodownoaso toowhatowouldoconstituteoparametersoforosatisfactionooforequiremento undero Sectiono 37o (ibid)o aso everyo caseo haso itso owno uniqueo facts/circumstances.o o Makingo sucho ano attempto iso nothingo buto ao utopiano endeavour.o o Ergo,o thiso issueo iso besto lefto too theo judicialo wisdomoandodiscretionoofotheoCourtodealingowithosuchomatter."o

o o o o 23o o o

8.o o Theogranto ofo bailo fallso withinotheodiscretionaryo domaino ofo theo court;o however,o sucho discretiono musto beo exercisedo ino ao judiciouso ando principledomanner,oensuringoitoalignsowithoestablishedolegaloprecedentsoandotheo interestso ofo justice.o Whileo consideringo ao bailo application,o theo Courto musto evaluateofactorsosuchoasotheoexistenceoofoprimaofacieoevidenceoimplicatingotheo accused,otheonatureoandogravityoofotheoallegedooffence,oandotheoseverityoofotheo likelyosentenceouponoconviction.oTheoCourtomustoalsooassessotheolikelihoodoofo theoaccusedoabscondingooroevadingotheodueoprocessoofolaw,otheoprobabilityoofo theooffenceobeingorepeatedoandoanyoreasonableoapprehensionoofotheoaccusedo tamperingowithoevidenceooroinfluencingowitnesses.oAdditionally,otheocharacter,o antecedents,o financialo means,o societalo standingo ando overallo conducto ofo theo accusedoplayoaocrucialorole.oFurthermore,otheoCourtomustoweighotheopotentialo dangeroofobailounderminingotheoadministrationoofojusticeoorothwartingoitsodueo course.oAoprofitableoreferenceoinothisoregardoisomadeotootheojudgmentopassedo byotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtotitledoasoStateothroughoC.B.I.ovs.oAmaramanio Tripathi,o2005oAIRoSupremeoCourto3490,orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:o "14.oo Ito iso wello settledo thato theo matterso too beo consideredo ino ano applicationoforobailoareo(i)owhetherothereoisoanyoprimaofacieoororeasonableo groundotoobelieveothatotheoaccusedohadocommittedotheooffence;o(ii)onatureo andogravityoofotheocharge;o(iii)oseverityoofotheopunishmentoinotheoeventoofo conviction;o(iv)odangeroofoaccusedoabscondingoorofleeingoiforeleasedoonobail;o

(v)ocharacter,obehaviour,omeans,opositionoandostandingoofotheoaccused;(vi)o likelihoodoofotheooffenceobeingorepeated;o(vii)oreasonableoapprehensionoofo theowitnessesobeingotamperedowith;oando(viii)odanger,oofocourse,oofojusticeo beingothwartedobyograntoofobailo(seeoPrahladoSinghoBhatiov.oNCT,oDelhi,o 2001(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o377o(SC)o:2001(4)oSCCo280oandoGurcharanoSingho2001(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o377o(SC)o:2001(4)oSCCo280o GurcharanoSingho v.oStateo(DelhioAdministration),oAIRo1978oSupremeoCourto179).oWhileoao vagueoallegationothatoaccusedomayotamperowithotheoevidenceoorowitnesseso mayonotobeoaogroundotoorefuseobail,oifotheoaccusedoisoofosuchocharacterothato hiso mereo presenceo ato largeo wouldo intimidateo theo witnesseso oro ifo thereo iso materialotooshowothatoheowillouseohisolibertyotoosubvertojusticeoorotamperowitho theoevidence,othenobailowillobeorefused.oWeomayoalsooreferotootheofollowingo principleso relatingo too granto oro refusalo ofo bailo statedo ino Kalyano Chandrao

o o o o 24o o Sarkarov.oRajeshoRanjan,o2004(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o254o(SC)o:2004(7)oSCCo 528o:"Theolawoinoregardotoograntoororefusaloofobailoisoveryowellosettled.oTheo courtograntingobailoshouldoexerciseoitsodiscretionoinoaojudiciousomanneroando notoasoaomatteroofocourse.oThoughoatotheostageoofograntingobailoaodetailedo examinationoofoevidenceoandoelaborateodocumentationoofotheomeritoofotheo caseo needo noto beo undertaken,o thereo iso ao needo too indicateo ino sucho orderso reasonsoforoprimaofacieoconcludingowhyobailowasobeingograntedoparticularlyo whereotheoaccusedoisochargedoofohavingocommittedoaoseriousooffence.oAnyo orderodevoidoofosuchoreasonsowouldosufferofromonon-applicationoofomind.oIto iso alsoo necessaryo foro theo courto grantingo bailo too considero amongo othero circumstances,otheofollowingofactorsoalsoobeforeograntingobail;otheyoare:oo a.oTheonatureoofoaccusationoandotheoseverityoofopunishmentoinocaseoofo convictionoandotheonatureoofosupportingoevidence.o b.o Reasonableo apprehensiono ofo tamperingo witho theo witnesso oro apprehensionoofothreatotootheocomplainant.o c.oPrimaofacieosatisfactionoofotheocourtoinosupportoofotheocharge.o(seeocourt RamoGovindUpadhyayov.oSudarshanoSingh,o2002(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o250o

(SC)o:o2002(3)oSCCo598oandPuranov.oRamoBilas,o2001(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o 801o(SC)o:o2001(6)oSCCo338."o o ThisoCourtoalsooinospecificotermsoheldothato:o "theoconditionolaidodownounderosectiono437(1)(i)oisosineoquaononoforo grantingobailoevenounderosectiono439oofotheoCode.oInotheoimpugnedoorderoito isonoticedothatotheoHighoCourtohasogivenotheoperiodoofoincarcerationoalreadyo undergoneobyotheoaccusedoandotheounlikelihoodoofotrialoconcludingoinotheo nearofutureoasogroundsosufficientotooenlargeotheoaccusedoonobail,oinospiteoofo theofactothatotheoaccusedostandsochargedoofooffencesopunishableowitholifeo imprisonmentooroevenodeathopenalty.oInosuchocases,oinoouroopinion,otheomereo factothatotheoaccusedohasoundergoneocertainoperiodoofoincarcerationo(threeo yearsoinothisocase)obyoitselfowouldonotoentitleotheoaccusedotoobeingoenlargedo onobail,onorotheofactothatotheotrialoisonotolikelyotoobeoconcludedoinotheonearo futureoeitherobyoitselfoorocoupledowithotheoperiodoofoincarcerationowouldobeo sufficientoforoenlargingotheoappellantoonobailowhenotheogravityoofotheooffenceo allegedoisosevereoandothereoareoallegationsoofotamperingowithotheowitnesseso byotheoaccusedoduringotheoperiodoheowasoonobail."o o

9.o o Ato theo outset,o ito mayo beo observedo thato ato theo stageo ofo considerationo ofo regularo bail,o thiso Courto iso noto required,o noro wouldo ito beo appropriate,o too undertakeo ao meticulouso examinationo ofo theo legalityo ofo commercialotransactionsoorotoorecordodefinitiveofindingsoonotheomeritsoofotheo competingoclaims,owhichoisotoobeotestedoduringotrial.oNevertheless,otheoCourto cannotoremainoobliviousotootheobroaderofactualobackdropoemergingofromotheo recordowhileoassessingowhetherodiscretionooughtotoobeoexercisedoinofavouroofo theopetitioner(s).oo

o o o o 25o o

9.1.o o Theo granto ofo bail,o thougho discretionary,o assumeso ao narrowero compasso whereo allegationso pertaino too organisedo diversiono ofo regulatedo pharmaceuticalo substanceso intoo illicito channelso undero theo guiseo ofo lawfulo businessooperations.oCourtsohaveoconsistentlyocautionedothatoentitiesooperatingo withino theo pharmaceuticalo sectoro cannoto beo permittedo too cloako unlawfulo activitiesobehindotheofacadeoofolicencesoorocorporateostructures,oparticularlyo whereo theo allegationso discloseo large-scaleo commercialo dealingso capableo ofo underminingo theo statutoryo frameworko ofo theo NDPSo Act.o Ito iso ao settledo principleothatolegalityoofoformocannotodefeatoscrutinyoofosubstance;otheomereo existenceoofolicencesoorocorporateoentitiesodoesonot,obyoitself,odispeloaoprimao facieoinferenceoarisingofromosurroundingocircumstances.oo

9.2.o o Ino caseso involvingo allegedo diversiono througho layeredo businesso arrangementso oro intermediaryo entities,o theo Courto iso requiredo too adopto ao cautiousoapproach,oasocomplexooffencesopertainingotoonarcotics,ooftenoemployo structuredotransactionsooroshelloarrangementsotoodistanceoprincipaloactorsofromo theo physicalo recoveryo ofo contraband.o Theo submissiono thato theo petitioner(s)o wereo operatingo througho licensedo entitieso oro formalo commercialo channels,o therefore,ocannotobeoacceptedoatofaceovalueoatothisostage,oparticularlyowhenotheo magnitudeo ofo theo allegedo recoveryo indicateso ao coordinatedo supplyo chaino extendingobeyondoisolatedotransactions.oCommercialosophisticationocannotobeo permittedotoobecomeoaoshieldoagainstocriminaloaccountability.oo

10.o o Inotheopresentocase,otheopetitioner(s)owereoarrested,owhereinaftero investigationowasocarriedooutoandochallanowasopresented.oOutoofototalocitedo50o prosecutiono witnesses,o noneo haso beeno examinedo tillo date.o Theo trialo iso

o o o o 26o o underway.o Indubitably,o theo petitioner(s)o areo involvedo ino theo complainto ino questionopertainingotoohugeocommercialoquantityoofocontrabandoasoperoNDPSo Act,o1985.oPrimaofacie,otheopetitioner(s)oareoaccusedoofohavingodealingsoino narcotico substanceso witho theo firm(s)o whicho existo onlyo ono paperso ando noto physically.o Fromo theo rivalo submissionso aso alsoo theo materialo broughto fortho beforeome,onoocauseoisomadeooutoinofavouroofotheopetitioner(s)otoomeetowithotheo rigorsoofoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct.oHence,okeepingoinoviewotheoentiretyoofo theofactualomilieuoofotheocaseoinohand;oespeciallyotheocontrabandoallegedotoobeo recoveredobeingocommercialoinonature;otheopetition(s)oinohandodeserveotoobeo dismissed.oo

11.oo o Orderedoaccordingly.oo

12.o o Nothingosaidohereinaboveoshallobeoconstruedoasoanoexpressionoofo opinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocase.oo

13.oo o Sinceotheomainocaseohasobeenodecided,opendingomiscellaneouso application,oifoany,oshalloalsoostandsodisposedooff.o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ooo o oooooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o ooooooJUDGEo Februaryo11,o2026oo mahavirooo o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo

o o