( 2025:HHC:28742 ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA. Cr. MP (M) No.   :  1913 of 2025 Reserved on     :     19.08.2025 Decided on       :     26.08.2025 Rakesh Kumar …Applicant Versus State of Himachal Pradesh …Respondent Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh,  Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the applicant      :  Mr. Atul Kumar, Advocate. For the respondent   : Mr. Tejasvi Sharma, Mr. H.S. Rawat, & Mr. Mohinder Zharaick, Additional   Advocates   General   with Ms. Ranjna Patial, Deputy Advocate General, assisted by ASI Mahender Singh, Police Station Dharamshala. Virender Singh, Judge Applicant­Rakesh Kumar has filed the present application, under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha   Sanhita,   2023   (hereinafter   referred   to   as   the 'BNSS'), with a prayer to release him on bail, during the pendency of trial, arising out of FIR No.17 of 2025, dated 22.01.2025, registered, under Sections 21, 25 and 29 of 1 Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 2 ( 2025:HHC:28742 ) the   Narcotic   Drugs   and   Psychotropic   Substances   Act, (hereinafter referred to as the ‘NDPS Act’), and Section 132 and   121(1)   of   the   Bharatiya   Nyaya   Sanhita   (hereinafter referred to as the BNS), with Police Station, Dharamshala, District Kangra, H.P. 2. According   to   the   applicant,   he   is   innocent person and has falsely been implicated by the Police, in the present case and presently, he is in judicial custody. 3. As  per  the   applicant,   apart  from   the   present case   one   another   case   vide   FIR   No.18   of   2025,   dated 24.01.2025, under Sections 21, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act was registered against him. 4. According to the applicant, the investigation, in the present case, is completed and the matter is now fixed for consideration on charge, before the competent Court of law. 5. Applicant   has   filed   similar   application   before learned Special Judge­III, Kangra at Dharamshala, District Kangra, however, his application has been dismissed vide order dated 13.06.2025. 3 ( 2025:HHC:28742 ) 6. On the basis of the above facts, learned counsel appearing for the applicant has given certain undertakings, to which, the applicant is ready to abide by, in case, the applicant is ordered to be released on bail. 7. Apart from the above, the relief of bail has also been sought on the ground of parity, as, his co­accused Ayush   Soni,   Jermanjeet   Kaur,   Shwetang   Kumar   Sahi, Shashank   Bisht,   and   Kulwant   Kaur,   have   already   been released   on   bail,   by   this   Court,   vide   orders   dated 15.05.2025, 23.05.2025, 03.06.2025 and 5.6.2025, passed in Cr.MP(M) Nos.954, 1007, 1123, 1213 & 1252 of 2025. 8. On the basis of the above facts, a prayer has been made to allow the application. 9. When   put   to   notice,   the   police   has   filed   the status   report,   disclosing   therein,   on   22.01.2025,   HC Shashi Pal No.39, along with other police officials, was on patrolling duty in official vehicle No.HP39E­3253. 9.1. At about 12.50 a.m., in the midnight, when the I.O.,   along   with   other   police   officials,   reached   at   Petrol Pump Sakoh, then he noticed a vehicle coming in the high speed from Gaggal side. 4 ( 2025:HHC:28742 ) 9.2. On seeing the police vehicle, driver of the said vehicle, all of a sudden take a cut and drove the vehicle at a very high speed towards Sakoh side, as such, the I.O. raised suspicion in his mind that some objectionable item could be there in the  vehicle, as such,  he directed the driver of his vehicle to chase the said vehicle, registration number of which was HP39B­9902. 9.3. When,   the   police   vehicle   was   chasing   the vehicle   bearing   registration   No.HP39B­9902,   its   driver increased its speed, upon which, the I.O. informed SI Vijay Singh, who was already on patrolling, to intercept the said vehicle coming on the Sakoh road. 9.4. After chasing the said vehicle, the driver of the said vehicle drove the vehicle through Radio Colony link road   towards   Chilgadi,   however,   in   that   process,   the vehicle struck against the RCC retaining wall. Thereafter, three   boys   were   found   to   have   alighted   down   from   the vehicle, who ran towards Rodikut road side. 9.5. One boy was nabbed by ASI Vijay Singh, at a distance of 20 meters, however, other persons could not be nabbed, as it was the night time. The person, so nabbed, 5 ( 2025:HHC:28742 ) gave a fist blow on the right eye of ASI Vijay Singh. The said person was overpowered by other police officials. On inquiry, he disclosed his name as Shanshak Bisht. He also disclosed the names of his companion, who allegedly ran away from the sport, as Ayush Soni and Shwetang Shahi @ Shinu. 9.6. Constable Abhishek Kumar was sent to arrange independent witness. At about 1.25 a.m., he came back with one person namely Manoj Kumar, who was associated as   independent   witness. In   the   presence   of   said independent   witnesses,   the   vehicle   was   searched   and during search, from underneath the foot mat of front seat, a transparent polythene was found along with electronic weighing scale. 9.7. When  the said  polythene  was  opened, brown coloured granular shaped substance was found, which on smelling and on the basis of experience was found to be Chitta/heroin. Accused Shashank Bisht also confirmed the said fact. On weighment, the same was found to be 30 grams of Chitta. 6 ( 2025:HHC:28742 ) 10. After completion of other codal formalities, the FIR,   in   question,   was   registered   and   the   accused   was arrested. The contraband along with the vehicle was taken into possession. 11. Thereafter, the medico­legal examination of ASI Vijay Singh was got conducted. On 22.1.2025, accused Ayush Soni and Shwetang Kumar Shahi @ Shinu, were also associated in the investigation and were arrested. 12. During investigation, accused Ayush Soni and Shwetang   Kumar   Shahi   @   Shinu,   has   disclosed   that Raman   Kumar   is   also   dealing   in   the   business   of Chitta/Heroin. FIR   No.13/25,   dated   15.1.2025,   under Section 21 of the NDPS Act, was found to be registered with Police Station, Dharamshala against accused Raman Kumar @ Rambo. 13. Raman Kumar has introduced accused Ayush Soni   and   Shwetang   Kumar   Shahi   @   Shinu   with   the smuggler of Chitta namely Maninder Singh. Against said Maninder   Singh   and   Rakesh   Kumar   (applicant),   case bearing FIR No.18/25, dated 24.01.2025, registered under Section 21, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act was found to be 7 ( 2025:HHC:28742 ) registered   with   Police   Station   Dharamshala. Accused Raman   Kumar   was   arrested   in   FIR   No.13/25   on 15.1.2025. 14. During investigation, involvement of Maninder Singh and Rakesh Kumar (applicant) was also found, who were stated to have been arrested in FIR No.18/25. 15. On 24.1.2025, custody of Maninder Singh and Rakesh   Kumar   (applicant)   was   transferred   from   case No.18/25   to   this   case   and   they   were   arrested   on 27.1.2025. 16. During   investigation,   it   has   also   been   found that   accused   Ayush   and   Shinu   used   to   transfer   the amount   in   the   account   of   one   Kulwant   Kaur   and thereafter, said Kulwant Kaur used to transfer the said amount in the account of accused Jermanjeet Kaur. 17. Accused Shwetang Kumar Sahi has transferred a sum of Rs.1,88,000/­, whereas, accused Ayush Soni has transferred   a   sum   of   Rs.2,53,000/­   to   the   account   of Kulwant   Kaur. The   said   amount   was   transferred   for purchasing   Chitta. Accused   Jermanjeet   Kaur   in 8 ( 2025:HHC:28742 ) connivance with her mother has transferred the amount of Rs.8,40,370/­ in her bank account. 18. Thereafter, the service provider was requested to   provide   the   CDRs   of   mobile   number   of   accused Shwetang Kumar Shahi, Ayush, Shashank and Jermanjeet Kaur. On   perusal   of   those   CDRs,   location   of   accused Ayush, Shashank and Shwetang Kumar Shahi was found to   be   in   the   area   of   Dharamshala   to   Daulatpur,   on 21.01.2025,   at   4.30   p.m.,   whereas,   their   location   was found to be at Dharamshala, on 12.30 a.m, at 22.1.2025. 19. It has also been found in the investigation that accused   Shwetang   Kumar,   Ayush   and   Shashank   had purchased   Chitta   from   accused   Maninder   Singh   and Rakesh Kumar (applicant) at Mubarikpur, during night of 21.1.2025. Accused   Maninder   Singh   and   applicant Rakesh Kumar were arrested in FIR No. 18/25, registered under   Sections   21   and   29   of   the   NDPS   Act. Accused Kulwant Kaur was arrested on 2.3.2025. 20. During investigation, it was found that accused Kulwant   Kaur   had   transferred   the   said   amount   to   the account   of   her   daughter   accused   Jermanjeet   Kaur   and 9 ( 2025:HHC:28742 ) accused Jermanjeet Kaur  was  proceeding towards Delhi Airport,   as   her   flight   to   Canada   was   scheduled   for 03.03.2025, at 5.35 a.m.  She was nabbed at Delhi Airport on 03.03.2025, at about 3.30 a.m. and was arrested. 21. After   completion   of   the   investigation,   charge­ sheet  has  been  filed   against  accused   Ayush,  Shwetang, Shashank,   Maninder   Rakesh   (applicant),   Kulwant   Kaur and   accused   Jermanjeet   Kaur,   in   the   Court   of   learned Additional   Sessions   Judge­III,   Kangra   at   Dharamshala. The case is now stated to have been fixed for prosecution evidence. 22. On the basis of the above facts, a prayer has been made to dismiss the application. 23. The   contraband   allegedly   recovered   from   the possession of accused persons, in this case, does not fall within   the   definition   of   commercial   quantity,   as   such, rigors of Section 37 of the NDPS Act are not applicable, in the present case. 24. Once, it has been held that rigors of Section 37 of   the   NDPS   Act   are   not   applicable,   then,   the   next question, which arises for determination, before this Court, 10 ( 2025:HHC:28742 ) is as to whether the applicant is entitled to the relief, as claimed in the application or not. 25. Investigation, in the present case, is complete as such, it can be said that the custodial interrogation of the applicant is not required by the Police. Moreover, the chances   of   commencement   and   conclusion   of   the   trial against the accused persons, in near future, are not so bright. 26. Except the present case, one case is found to have   been   registered   against   the   applicant. Mere registration   of   the   case   does   not   take   away   the presumption of innocence, which is still available to the applicant, as he has not been convicted by the competent Court of law, in the said case. 27. The bail  application  cannot  be rejected, as  a matter   of   punishment,   as,   pre­trial   punishment   is prohibited   under   the   law   and   punishment   can   only   be imposed, after the full fledged trial, by competent Court of law. 28. Moreover,   on   the   ground   of   parity   also,   the applicant   is   entitled   to   be  released   on   bail,   as,  his  co­ 11 ( 2025:HHC:28742 ) accused Ayush Soni, Jermanjeet Kaur, Shwetang Kumar Sahi, Shashank Bisht, and Kulwant Kaur, have already been released  on bail, by this Court, vide orders dated 15.05.2025, 23.05.2025, 03.06.2025 and 5.6.2025, passed in Cr.MP(M) Nos.954, 1007, 1123, 1213 & 1252 of 2025. 29. Considering all these facts, this Court is of the view that the bail application is liable to be allowed and is accordingly allowed. The applicant is ordered to be released on bail during the pendency of the trial, arising out of FIR No.17   of   2025,   dated   22.01.2025,   registered,   under Sections 21, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act and Sections 132 & 121(1) of the BNS, with Police Station, Dharamshala, District Kangra, H.P., on his furnishing personal bonds, in the   sum   of   Rs.50,000/­,   with   one   surety,   in   the   like amount, to the satisfaction of learned trial Court. 29. This order of release, however, shall be subject to the following conditions :­ “a)   Applicant shall regularly attend the trial Court on   each   and   every   date   of   hearing   and   if prevented   by   any   reason   to   do   so,   seek exemption from appearance by filing appropriate application; b) Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence   nor   hamper   the   investigation   of   the case in   any   manner whatsoever; 12 ( 2025:HHC:28742 ) c)     Applicant shall not make any inducement, threat or promises to any person acquainted with the facts of   the case   so   as   to   dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the Court or the Police Officer; and d) Applicant shall not leave the territory of India without the prior permission of the Court.” 30. Any of the observations made herein above shall not be taken as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case as these observations are confined only to the disposal of the present bail application. 31. It is made clear that the respondent­State is at liberty to move an appropriate application, in case, any of the bail conditions is found to be violated by the applicant. 32. The Registry is directed to forward a soft copy of the bail order to the Superintendent of Jail, Lala Lajpat Rai Open   Air   Correctional   Home,   Dharamshala,   District Kangra, through e­mail, with a direction to enter the date of grant of bail in the e­prison software. 33. In case, the   applicant is not released within a period of seven   days   from   the   date   of   grant of bail, the  Superintendent   of   Jail,   Lala   Lajpat   Rai   Open   Air Correctional   Home,   Dharamshala,   District   Kangra,  is 13 ( 2025:HHC:28742 ) directed to inform this fact to the Secretary, DLSA, Kangra at Dharamshala. The  Superintendent of Jail, Lala Lajpat Rai   Open   Air   Correctional   Home,   Dharamshala,   District Kangra,  is further directed that if the applicant fails to furnish the bail bonds, as per the order passed by this Court, within a period of one month from today, then, the said fact be submitted to this Court. ( Virender Singh ) Judge August 26, 2025(ps) RAJNI Digitally signed by RAJNI Date: 2025.08.26 17:03:20 +0530