241 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-40810-2025 Date of decision: 05.08.2025 Ankit Kumar ....Petitioner Versus State of Haryana ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARPREET SINGH BRAR Present: Mr. Rakesh Kumar Lathwal, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Satbir Goripuria, DAG, Haryana. HARPREET SINGH BRAR, J. (ORAL) The present petition has been filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 seeking regular bail in case bearing FIR No.48 dated 09.02.2025 under Sections 15/29 of NDPS Act (added later on) registered at Police Station Bahalgarh, District Sonipat (Haryana). Succinctly, the facts of the case are that on 09.02.2025 based on the secret information, a police team headed by ASI Sandeep, apprehended Anil, Aakash and Keshav in conscious possession of contraband i.e. 27 kg 150 grams of churapost, 20 kg 550 grams of churapost and 12 kg 900 grams of doda in three separate plastic bags, cumulatively falling in commercial quantity and thus, the present case. Learned counsel for the petitioner inter alia contends that as per the case set up by the prosecution, three persons, namely, Anil, Aakash and Keshav, were apprehended at the spot and from all three of them, about 60 kg of poppy husk was recovered. The entire bulk was weighed along with three separate plastic bag. Further, the petitioner has been nominated as an accused Neha 2025.08.05 16:36 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-40810-2025 -2- only on the basis of disclosure statement made by co-accused while in police custody which has no evidentiary value in the eyes of law as the same is hit by Sections 25 and 26 of the Indian Evidence Act and the petitioner is not involved in any other case. The petitioner is behind the bars for the last 05 months and 22 days. Further, the contraband recovered is marginally higher than the commercial quantity. Apart from the disclosure statement, there is no evidence either forensic or otherwise to corroborate the case set by the prosecution against the petitioner. The learned State counsel has filed custody certificate in the Court today which is taken on record and per contra, opposes the grant of regular bail to the petitioner on the ground that complicity of the petitioner is duly established during investigation. However, he could not controvert the fact that investigation of the case is complete the petitioner is not involved in any other case. A two Judge Bench of Hon’ble Supreme Court in ‘Satender Kumar Antil v. CBI’ (2022) 10 SCC 51, with respect to prevailing conditions of undertrial prisoner in India has observed: “6. Jails in India are flooded with undertrial prisoners. The statistics placed before us would indicate that more than 2/3rd of the inmates of the prisons constitute undertrial prisoners. Of this category of prisoners, majority may not even be required to be arrested despite registration of a cognizable offence, being charged with offences punishable for seven years or less. They are not only poor and illiterate but also would include women. Thus, there is a culture of offence being inherited by many of them. As observed by this Court, it certainly exhibits the mindset, a vestige of colonial India, on the part of the investigating agency, notwithstanding the fact arrest is a draconian measure resulting in curtailment of liberty, and thus to be used sparingly. In a democracy, there can never be an impression that it is a police State as both are conceptually opposite to each other.” Having heard learned counsel for the parties and after perusing the record of the case, it transpires that the petitioner is behind the bars since Neha 2025.08.05 16:36 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-40810-2025 -3- 14.02.2025. Investigation is complete. The final report under Section 173 Cr.P.C. was presented before the concerned Court and trial of the case has not made much progress as out of 18 prosecution witnesses, none has been examined so far. The culpability, if any, would be determined at the time of trial. No useful purpose shall be served by further detention of the accused/petitioner. Keeping the petitioner in further detention without the prospect of the trial being concluded in the near future, would be violative of his rights under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. In view the above, the present petition is allowed. Thus, without commenting upon the merits of the case lest it may prejudice the outcome of the trial, the petitioner-Ankit Kumar is ordered to be released on regular bail during trial on his furnishing bail bonds/surety bonds to the satisfaction of Illaqa Magistrate/Trial Court. Nothing observed hereinabove shall be construed as expression of opinion of this Court on merits of the case and the trial Court shall proceed without being prejudiced by observations of this Court. (HARPREET SINGH BRAR) JUDGE 05.08.2025 Neha Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No Neha 2025.08.05 16:36 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document