( 2025:JHHC:38047 ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI B.A. No. 8968 of 2025 ------- Shashi Bhushan Prasad, aged about 42 years, son of Late Bodhan Lal Prasad, resident of village Solumjuri, P.O. & P.S. Silli, District Khunti, Jharkhand. …... …. Petitioner(s) Versus The State of Jharkhand .…. …. Opp. Party -------- CORAM : HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE AMBUJ NATH -------- For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. A. K. Kashyap, Sr. Advocate Mr. Anurag Kashyap, Advocate For the State : None -------- 04/ Dated 18.12.2025 Heard the parties. The petitioner has been made accused in connection with Maranghada P.S. Case No. 14 of 2023, NDPS Case No.36(C) of 2023, for the offence under Sections 15(C), 22 and 25 of NDPS Act, pending in the court of learned Special Judge (NDPS), Khunti. On 04.05.2023, Maranghada Police on the basis of confidential information, intercepted two Pick-Up Vans at a place near village Katudh. On search, 2,374 kgs. of poppy husk were recovered from the said vehicles. Petitioner is the owner of one of the vehicles. Learned senior counsel for the petitioner submitted that petitioner had sold his truck to one Chandan Kumar Sahu prior to the occurrence. Attention has been drawn towards agreement paper relating to sale of vehicle to Chandan Kumar Sahu. Vide order dated 11.11.2025, learned A.P.P on behalf of the State was directed to file counter affidavit, stating whether the petitioner had sold the vehicle to Chandan Kumar Sahu or not. Nobody is present on behalf of the State. Learned counsel for the State has also not filed any counter affidavit with regard to the aforesaid direction. In view of the aforesaid fact, I am inclined to release the petitioner, on bail. Accordingly, the petitioner, named above, is directed to be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of learned Special Judge (NDPS), Khunti, in connection with Maranghada P.S. Case No. 14 of 2023, NDPS Case No.36(C) of 2023. (Ambuj Nath, J.) December 18, 2025 BS/- Uploaded on 19.12.2025