IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA 133 ARSHPREET KAUR GREWAL STATE OF PUNJAB CORAM: Present: MANJARI NEHRU KAUL, J. 1. BNSS, 2023 for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.177 Pyschotropic Substances Act, 1985 of Corruption Act, 1988 Moga. 2. that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the instant case. further submitted that the alleged recovery of contraband from of the petitioner was not only planted but also highly suspicious, as the same batch of expired seized earlie 19.10.2023, both registered at Police Station Baghapurana for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was never posted at Police Station Baghapurana, and hence, had no nexus with the s IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM- Date of decision: ARSHPREET KAUR GREWAL Versus STATE OF PUNJAB HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANJARI NEHRU KAUL Mr. Robin Dutt, Advocate for the petitioner. MANJARI NEHRU KAUL, J. The instant petition has been filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case dated 29.10.2024 under Section 22 of schotropic Substances Act, 1985 and Sectio of Corruption Act, 1988, registered at Police Station Learned counsel for the petitioner has that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the instant case. further submitted that the alleged recovery of contraband from of the petitioner was not only planted but also highly suspicious, as the same batch of expired Etizolam tablets (Batch No.TPT0955) had purportedly been rlier in FIR No.22 dated 22.01.2023 and , both registered at Police Station Baghapurana for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was never posted at Police Station Baghapurana, and hence, had no nexus with the s IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH -M-36931-2025 Date of decision: July 15, 2025 ...Petitioner ...Respondent HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANJARI NEHRU KAUL The instant petition has been filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case 29.10.2024 under Section 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and and Sections 7, 13(2) of the Prevention , registered at Police Station City South, District Learned counsel for the petitioner has vehemently contended that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the instant case. It has been further submitted that the alleged recovery of contraband from the residence of the petitioner was not only planted but also highly suspicious, as the same zolam tablets (Batch No.TPT0955) had purportedly been 22 dated 22.01.2023 and FIR No.20 dated , both registered at Police Station Baghapurana. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was never posted at Police Station Baghapurana, and hence, had no nexus with the said recoveries. ...Petitioner ...Respondent The instant petition has been filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case the Narcotic Drugs and Prevention , District contended It has been the residence of the petitioner was not only planted but also highly suspicious, as the same zolam tablets (Batch No.TPT0955) had purportedly been dated . Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was never posted at Police Jaspreet Kaur 2025.07.17 17:27 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-36931 3. residential premises of the petitioner was conducted in gross violation of procedural safeguards. The as neighbours or Learned counsel has also alleged that the CCTV cameras installed at the residence of the petitioner were removed by the police operation, ostensibly to suppress 4. relevant material placed on record. 5. petitioner is an accused in a case arising from a serious investigation into offences under the Drugs and Pyschotropic Substances Act, 1985 search warrant from the Court of l Moga, a team multiple police officials officers, a search was conducted at the residential premises of the petitioner. 6. contraband in the form of 100 Etizolam tablets (0.5 mg each), 35 tablets, 3 broken drawer beneath the LCD panel in the bedroom. recovered Etizolam 36931-2025 It has still further been submitted that the search residential premises of the petitioner was conducted in gross violation of procedural safeguards. There was absence of any independent witness, as neighbours or even family members, at th Learned counsel has also alleged that the CCTV cameras installed at the residence of the petitioner were removed by the police operation, ostensibly to suppress evidence of procedural irregularities I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner and perused the relevant material placed on record. As per the allegations levelled in the FIR (Annexure P petitioner is an accused in a case arising from a serious investigation into offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 Drugs and Pyschotropic Substances Act, 1985 search warrant from the Court of learned Moga, a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, accompanied by multiple police officials and in the presence of duly appointed Government officers, a search was conducted at the residential premises of the petitioner. During the said search, a transparent contraband in the form of 100 Etizolam tablets (0.5 mg each), 35 tablets, 3 broken tablets and 1 white tablet were allegedly recovered from a beneath the LCD panel in the bedroom. Etizolam tablets was approximately 21 grams, which is classified -2- It has still further been submitted that the search of the residential premises of the petitioner was conducted in gross violation of absence of any independent witness, such at the time of the alleged recovery. Learned counsel has also alleged that the CCTV cameras installed at the residence of the petitioner were removed by the police after the search of procedural irregularities. I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner and perused the As per the allegations levelled in the FIR (Annexure P-9), the petitioner is an accused in a case arising from a serious investigation into Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and the Narcotic Drugs and Pyschotropic Substances Act, 1985. During the execution of earned Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, accompanied by and in the presence of duly appointed Government officers, a search was conducted at the residential premises of the petitioner. transparent polybag containing contraband in the form of 100 Etizolam tablets (0.5 mg each), 35 loose tablets and 1 white tablet were allegedly recovered from a beneath the LCD panel in the bedroom. The total weight of the tablets was approximately 21 grams, which is classified of the residential premises of the petitioner was conducted in gross violation of such e time of the alleged recovery. Learned counsel has also alleged that the CCTV cameras installed at the after the search I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner and perused the the petitioner is an accused in a case arising from a serious investigation into Narcotic . During the execution of , led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, accompanied by and in the presence of duly appointed Government polybag containing loose tablets and 1 white tablet were allegedly recovered from a The total weight of the tablets was approximately 21 grams, which is classified Jaspreet Kaur 2025.07.17 17:27 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-36931 as ‘commercial’ under the NDPS Act. the spot and duly taken into the custody 7. nature. The recovery of commercial quantity her residential premises, as alleged, cases under the fact that anticipatory bail in such cases particularly where commercial quantity is involved. The statutory embar under Section 8. to show that the petitioner deserves the extraordinary concession of anticipatory bail. 9. 10. shall not be construed to be an expression of opinion on the merits of the case. July 15, 2025 Jaspreet Kaur 36931-2025 as ‘commercial’ under the NDPS Act. The recovered material was sealed at the spot and duly taken into the custody, following the prescribed procedure The allegations against the petitioner are grave and serious in nature. The recovery of commercial quantity her residential premises, as alleged, prima facie cases under the NDPS Act. At this stage, this Court cannot lose sight fact that anticipatory bail in such cases is governed by a stricter threshold, particularly where commercial quantity is involved. The statutory embar under Section 37 of the NDPS Act must be considered with full effect. At this stage, no cogent/convincing ground to show that the petitioner deserves the extraordinary concession of anticipatory bail. Accordingly, the instant petition stands dismissed. However, it is made clear that anything observed hereinabove shall not be construed to be an expression of opinion on the merits of the July 15, 2025 Whether speaking/reasoned Whether reportable -3- The recovered material was sealed at following the prescribed procedure. The allegations against the petitioner are grave and serious in nature. The recovery of commercial quantity of contraband substances from prima facie indicates her involvement in NDPS Act. At this stage, this Court cannot lose sight of the is governed by a stricter threshold, particularly where commercial quantity is involved. The statutory embargo onsidered with full effect. /convincing ground has been made out to show that the petitioner deserves the extraordinary concession of Accordingly, the instant petition stands dismissed. made clear that anything observed hereinabove shall not be construed to be an expression of opinion on the merits of the (MANJARI NEHRU KAUL) JUDGE : Yes/No : Yes/No The recovered material was sealed at The allegations against the petitioner are grave and serious in of contraband substances from involvement in of the is governed by a stricter threshold, go made out to show that the petitioner deserves the extraordinary concession of made clear that anything observed hereinabove shall not be construed to be an expression of opinion on the merits of the Jaspreet Kaur 2025.07.17 17:27 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh