2025:HHC:39134 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA. Cr. MP (M) No. :  2611 of 2025 Reserved on : 17.11.2025 Decided on    : 20.11.2025 Lalit Raghwa …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. Vinod K. Gupta, Advocate. For the respondent   : Mr. Tejasvi Sharma, Mr. Mohinder Zharaick,   Additional   Advocates General,   with   Ms. Ranjna   Patial, Deputy Advocate General. Virender Singh, Judge Applicant­Lalit   Raghwa   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, in case arising out of  FIR No. 57 of 1 Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 2 2025:HHC:39134 2025, dated 07.06.2025, registered  at Police Station Hatli, District Mandi, H.P., under Sections 21 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, (hereinafter referred to as the ‘NDPS Act’). 2. The relief of bail has been sought on the ground that the applicant is innocent person and has falsely been implicated by the police in the present case. 3. As   per   the  case   of   the  applicant,  he  has   no concern,   whatsoever,   with   the   crime   in   question. Moreover,   the   police   could   not   collect   any   evidence   to connect the applicant with the crime in question. 4. According   to   the   applicant,   he   is   permanent resident   of   Village   Dodwan,   Post   Office   Bhojpur,   Tehsil Sundernagar, District Mandi, H.P. and is the sole bread earner of his family. 5. As per the applicant, the investigation, in the present case, is complete and no useful purpose would be served by keeping him in judicial custody. The applicant is in judicial custody since 07.06.2025. 6. Applicant has tried his luck by moving similar application   before   learned   Special   Judge,   Sarkaghat, 3 2025:HHC:39134 District  Mandi,   H.P.,   however,   his   application   has   been dismissed, vide order dated 25.06.2025. 7. The applicant has also given the details of the cases registered against him, in para 7 of the application. The details of cases is reproduced, as under:­ (i) FIR   No.   8/2021,   dated   07.01.2021,   under Sections  21, 25, 29 of  ND&PS Act,  at Police Station Sundernagar, District Mandi, H.P.; (ii) FIR   No.   57/2025,   dated   20.03.2025,   under Sections  21, 25, 29 of  ND&PS Act,  at Police Station Sundernagar, District Mandi, H.P.; (iii) FIR No. 58 of 2021, dated 13.05.2021, under Sections  21, 25, 29 of  ND&PS Act,  at Police Station Bharari, District Bilaspur, H.P.; (iv) FIR   No.   243/2013,   dated   05.11.2013,   under Sections 279, 337, 338 of IPC, at Police Station Sundernagar, District Mandi, H.P.; and (v) FIR   No.   95/2013,   dated   16.11.2013,   under Sections 457, 380, 411 of IPC, at Police Station Sundernagar, District Mandi H.P. 8. On the basis of the above facts, Sh. Vinod K. Gupta,  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, during the pendency of the trial. 9. On the basis of the above facts, a prayer has been made to allow the application. 4 2025:HHC:39134 10. When   put   to   notice,   the   police   has   filed   the status report, disclosing therein, that on 07.06.2025, C. Pawan   Kumar   No.   518,   submitted   a   rukka,   which   was forwarded by HC Vishal Kanwar No. 63, I.O. SIU Mandi, for registration   of   the   FIR,   in   Police   Station   Hatli,   District Mandi, H.P., disclosing therein, that on 07.06.2025, he, along   with   other   police   officials,   in   civil   dress,   was   on patrolling duty and duty to detect the crime. 10.1 At about 8:20 pm, when he was present at a place, 2 km away from Dhalwan, then, he received a secret information regarding the indulgence of two young men are moving on Scooty bearing No. HP31D­3715, in the area of Upper Bhambla and they are in the business of selling Chitta. According   to   the   information,   in   case,   raid   is conducted,   large   quantity   of   contraband   could   be recovered. As per the information, cases of ND&PS Act have already been registered against those young men. The said information was found to be authentic and reliable. As such, information under Section 42(2) of the ND&PS Act, was prepared and submitted to Dy.S.P. Sh. Dinesh Kumar. 5 2025:HHC:39134 10.2 Thereafter, the police party proceeded towards Upper Bhambla. When, they were at a distance of 500 meters behind from Thakur Juice Corner, then, on the link road to Batail, then they noticed a scooty parked on the lower side of the road, two persons were there. One was on driving seat and other was standing there and was sniffing something after burning. When the vehicle of the police stopped   there,   then   the   person   had   thrown   the   said burning article. I.O. read the number of the scooty, which was found to be HP31D­3715 make Jupiter colour blue. 10.3 Thereafter,   C.   Pawan   Kumar   was   directed   to bring independent witnesses and I.O. had also tried to stop the vehicles moving on Jahu – Rewalsar road. However, due to darkness, no one had stopped the vehicle. At about 9:10 pm, C. Pawan Kumar came and told that the owner of Thakur Juice Corner refused to be an independent witness and he brought Beena Kumari, who came along with her son   and   another   ward   member   Pooja   Kumari,   reached there. I.O. apprised the factual position to both of them and requested them to become witnesses, for which they agreed. 6 2025:HHC:39134 10.4 Thereafter,   in   the   presence   of   independent witnesses, the names and addresses of the persons, who were there, along with the scooty, were ascertained. On inquiry,   the   driver   disclosed   his   name   as   Lalit   Kumar (applicant) and the another person disclosed his name as Gaurav   son   of   Naresh   Chand. Thereafter,   scooty   was searched and during search of the scooty, the vacant space near the ignition key, a polythene packet containing some substance was found, which, on checking, was found to be powdered substance. Both the accused persons disclosed that the recovered substance is Chitta. On weighment, the same was found to be 10.7 gram. The said contraband was taken into possession. 10.5 After completion of other codal formalities, the FIR,   in   question,   was   registered   and   the   accused   was arrested. The police obtained the criminal history of the applicant and as per the police, following cases were found to be registered against him:­ (i) FIR   No.   8/2021,   dated   07.01.2021,   under Section 21 of ND&PS Act; (ii) FIR   No.   57/2025,   dated   20.03.2025,   under Sections   21,   25   and   29   of   ND&PS   Act, registered   at   Police   Station   Sundernagar, District Mandi, H.P.; 7 2025:HHC:39134 (iii) FIR   No.   58/2021,   dated   13.05.2021,   under Sections   21,   25,   29   of   ND&PS   Act,   Police Station Bharari, District Bilaspur, H.P.; and (iv) FIR   No.   243/2013,   dated   05.11.2013,   under Sections 279, 337, 338 of IPC, Police Station Sundernagar, District Mandi, H.P. 10.6 As per the police, out of four cases, in the case at Sr. No. (iv), on 17.10.2016, the applicant has been fined under Section 279 of IPC for Rs. 11,000/­, under Section 337 IPC for Rs. 500/­ and under Section 338 of IPC for Rs. 500/­. 10.7 The   investigation,   in   the   present   case,   is complete and charge­sheet has been filed after the receipt of the report from SFSL Junga. 10.8 On   the   basis   of   above   facts,   it   has   been apprehended that the applicant is very clever person and he may threaten the prosecution witnesses and may also not be available for the trial. He may again indulge in the similar activity. 10.9 Lastly, it has been apprehended that there is lot of resentment in the area, qua the activity of the applicant and as such, a prayer for rejection of the application has been made. 8 2025:HHC:39134 11. First of all, so far as the registration of cases, which have been mentioned in the bail application, as well as,   reproduced   in   the   status   report   are   concerned, admittedly, the applicant is convicted in one of the cases, however,   the   conviction,   which   was   recorded   on 17.10.2016,   is   too   short   to   decline   the   relief   to   the applicant, for which, he is otherwise entitled for, as the said case was under Sections 279, 337 and 338 of IPC. 12. Moreover, the applicant cannot be permitted to suffer   the   sting   of   the   conviction,   which   was   recorded about nine years ago. There is nothing in the status report to demonstrate that the police has taken any action to get the bail, granted to the applicant, cancelled, by moving appropriate   application. Although,   the   other   cases   are under the provisions of ND&PS Act, but, mere registration of   cases   is   too   short   to   take   away   presumption   of innocence from him. 13. The   contraband   allegedly   recovered   from   the possession of accused persons, in this case, does not fall within   the   definition   of   commercial   quantity,   as   such, 9 2025:HHC:39134 rigors of Section 37 of the NDPS Act are not applicable, in the present case. 14. 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, is as to whether the applicant is entitled to the relief, as claimed in the application or not. 15. 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. 16. 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. 17. Moreover,   on   the   ground   of   parity   also,   the applicant   is   entitled   to   be  released   on   bail,   as,  his  co­ accused Gaurav has already been released, on bail, by the 10 2025:HHC:39134 Court of learned Special Judge Sarkaghat, vide order dated 25.06.2025. 18. 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 in case  FIR No. 57 of 2025, dated 07.06.2025, registered at  Police Station Hatli, District Mandi, H.P., under Sections 21 and 29 of the ND&PS Act,  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. 19. 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; 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 11 2025:HHC:39134 d) Applicant shall not leave the territory of India without the prior permission of the Court.” 20. 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. 21. 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. 22. The Registry is directed to forward a soft copy of the bail order to the Superintendent of Jail, District Jail Mandi, H.P., through e­mail, with a direction to enter the date of grant of bail in the e­prison software. 23. In case, the   applicant is not released within a period of seven   days   from   the   date   of   grant of bail, the  Superintendent of Jail,  District Jail  Mandi,  H.P.,  is directed to inform this fact to the Secretary, DLSA, Mandi. The Superintendent of Jail, District Jail Mandi, 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 12 2025:HHC:39134 one month from today, then, the said fact be submitted to this Court. ( Virender Singh ) Judge 20th November, 2025 (Pramod Kumar) PRADEEP Digitally signed by PRADEEP Date: 2025.11.20 14:08:22 +0530