2026:JHHC:5809 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI B.A. No. 11389 of 2025 ------ Nathuram Bishnoi @ Nathu Ram, S/o Binjaram, R/o Village-Lamba, P.O. & P.S.-Bilada, District-Jodhpur, State-Rajasthan .... .... …. Petitioner Versus The State of Jharkhand .... .... .... Opposite Party CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GAUTAM KUMAR CHOUDHARY For the Petitioner : Mr. Jagdeesh, Advocate Mr. Harshit Sahay, Advocate For the State : Mr. Bhola Nath Ojha, APP ------ Order No.04 / Dated : 26.02.2026. Heard both the sides. This bail application has been filed on behalf of Nathuram Bishnoi @ Nathu Ram who is in custody since 05.09.2025 in connection with Charhi P.S. Case No. 119 of 2024 for the offence registered under Sections 15 and 22 of the NDPS Act pending in the Court of Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge, NDPS Act, Hazaribagh, is pressed into motion. As per the FIR, on 27.12.2024 from truck bearing registration No. RJ19GF-3583, huge quantity of poppy husk was seized being 606.030 kg kept in 40 plastic packets. Two persons were arrested from the truck, one was Ramesh Kumar and another was Suresh Bishnoi who was driving the vehicle at the relevant time. Petitioner is the owner of the said truck. It is argued by the learned counsel on behalf of petitioner that indisputably he was the registered owner of the said truck, but the vehicle to all intent and purpose was under the operational control of Suresh Bishnoi who was not only paying the EMI of the loan financed for the purchase of the said truck, but was also making payment of the toll through FASTag. In order to substantiate, this plea the photocopy of equated monthly installment to Sundaram Finance Ltd. by UPI ID No.9828817167 showing payment of Rs. 56,500/- on 29.10.2024 has been filed. Similar transaction of 29.10.2024 and the bank statement of Sundaram Finance Ltd. has been enclosed with, from which it appears that loan installments were being paid by co-accused Suresh Bishnoi. An agreement of sale on non-judicial stamp executed by the petitioner in favour of the Suresh Bishnoi on 24.12.2021 has also been filed. It is also submitted that petitioner has no criminal antecedent. 2026:JHHC:5809 Learned A.P.P. for the State vehemently opposed the prayer for bail and submitted that petitioner is the owner of the truck and rigors of Section 37 of the NDPS Act will apply since the matter involves seizure of huge quantity of narcotics. Truck in question appears to be under the operational control of Suresh Bishnoi. Under the circumstances, the above-named petitioner is directed to be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/-(Twenty-Five Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the Court below. (Gautam Kumar Choudhary, J.) Pawan/ Uploaded 27.02.2026