p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No. 7990 of 2025 Raghunath Pujari …. Petitioner Mr. J.K. Digal, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. C.R. Swain, AGA CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH Order No. ORDER 17.07.2025 01. 1. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned counsel for the State. 2. The Petitioner is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with P.R. Case No.35 of 2025-26 pending on the file of learned Addl. District Sessions Judge, Bhanjanagar, Ganjam for commission of offences punishable under Sections 20(b)(ii)(C) in contravention of Section 8(c) of the NDPS Act. 3. It is submitted by the learned counsel that the Petitioner is the owner of the vehicle and has no knowledge of contraband to the tune of 74 kgs being transported in his vehicle. Hence, Petitioner may be protected by pre-arrest bail. 4. Learned counsel for the State opposes the prayer for pre-arrest bail in view of the bar contained in Section 37(1)(b)(ii) of the NDPS Act. p. 2 5. Taking into account such submission and that the investigation is at a nascent stage, this Court is not inclined to entertain the application for pre-arrest bail. However, in the event the Petitioner surrenders before the learned Court in seisin in the aforesaid case and moves an application for his release on bail, the same shall be considered on its own merit. Ground of parity, if any, may be considered by the learned court(s) below. 6. Accordingly, the ABLAPL stands disposed of. (V. NARASINGH) Judge Santoshi