HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAINITAL Second Bail Application No. 23 of 2025 Puttan Khan ...Applicant Versus State of Uttarakhand ...Respondent Present:- Mr. Mani Kumar, Advocate for the applicant. Mr. Pramod Tiwari, Brief Holder for the State. Hon’ble Ravindra Maithani, J. (Oral) Applicant is in judicial custody FIR/Case Crime No. 168 of 2023, under Section 8/20/60 of the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (“the Act”), Police Station Kathgodam, District Nainital. He has sought his release on bail. 2. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. 3. This is the second bail application. The first bail application, being BA1 No.1437 of 2024, was rejected on 26.11.2024. 4. Learned counsel for the applicant would submit that the applicant was arrested on 17.11.2023; Cognizance was taken on 08.04.2024; charges were framed on 06.08.2024. It is submitted that no witness has yet been examined. The applicant has never sought any adjournment in the case. 5. These factual aspects have not been denied by the learned State counsel. 6. It is a case pertaining to recovery of charas in commercial quantity and in such cases, Section 37 of the Act makes specific provisions. Bail in such cases may not be granted, unless the Court is 2 satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the accused is not guilty of such offence and that he is not likely to commit any offence while on bail. But, denial of bail does not give unfettered liberty to the prosecution to keep a person in custody without conducting a trial. 7. The applicant is in custody for more than a year. In between, for more than six months, no progress was made in the case. The trial has yet not concluded. It commands the Court to release the applicant on bail. 8. Having considered the entirety of facts, this Court is of the view that the applicant deserves to be enlarged on bail. 9. The bail application is allowed. 10. Let the applicant be released on bail, on his executing a personal bond and furnishing two reliable sureties, each of the like amount, to the satisfaction of the Court concerned. (Ravindra Maithani, J.) 29.04.2025 Avneet/