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2026 DAILYLAW 17689 (DEL)

FRED OKEKE @EKPYONY v. NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU

BAIL APPLN./1470/2026 · 2026-09-09

Girish Kathpalia

body2026

Judgment text

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BAIL APPLN. 1470/2026 Page 1 of 3 pages $~1 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision: 09.09.2026 # CNR No. DLHC010156452026 + BAIL APPLN. 1470/2026 FRED OKEKE @EKPYONY .....Petitioner Through: Mr. J.S. Kushwaha and Ms. Tanya Kushwaha, Advocates versus NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU .....Respondent Through: Ms. Shelly Dixit, Advocate with Inspector Rakesh Rana CORAM: JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA J U D G M E N T (ORAL) 1. The accused/applicant seeks regular bail in Case No. VIII/37/DZU/2021 for offence under Section 21(c) NDPS Act. 2. Broadly speaking, the accused/applicant, a foreign national was apprehended on 25.06.2021 and was found in possession of 122 grams cocaine being carried by him on his scooter. GIRISH KATHPALIA Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec45569af3 962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15570996b 40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.09.09 17:11:21 +05'30' Digitally Signed By:RAHUL YADAV Signing Date:09.09.2026 17:22:24 Signature Not Verified BAIL APPLN. 1470/2026 Page 2 of 3 pages 3. At the outset, learned counsel for accused/applicant submits that the only ground on which the accused/applicant seeks bail is prolonged incarceration without concluding the trial. In this regard, learned counsel for accused/applicant places reliance on the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Rabi Prakash vs The State of Odisha, 2023 SCC Online SC 1109. It is submitted that the accused/applicant was arrested on 25.06.2021, but till date only 6 out of 17 prosecution witnesses have been examined. 4. On being called upon to produce the ordersheets of the trial court in order to ascertain as to whether the alleged delay in trial is not being caused by the defence side itself, learned counsel for accused/applicant expresses inability to show the same. But learned counsel for respondent NCB submits that having examined the trial court record, she found that in the trial there was no delay caused on behalf of the accused/applicant. 5. Further, learned counsel for NCB also submits that the only objection they have is that passport and visa of the accused/applicant is no more valid, so if he has to be released on bail, his custody be given to FRRO only. 6. Considering the above circumstances, the application is allowed and the accused/applicant is directed to be released on bail and be handed over to FRRO subject to his furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.50,000/- with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Trial Court/Duty Magistrate. GIRISH KATHPALIA Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec45569 af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d1557099 6b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.09.09 17:11:40 +05'30' Digitally Signed By:RAHUL YADAV Signing Date:09.09.2026 17:22:24 Signature Not Verified BAIL APPLN. 1470/2026 Page 3 of 3 pages 7. A copy of this order be immediately transmitted to the concerned Jail Superintendent for informing the accused/applicant. GIRISH KATHPALIA (JUDGE) SEPTEMBER 09, 2026/as GIRISH KATHPALIA Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afe c45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d1 5570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff8 01e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.09.09 17:11:50 +05'30' By:RAHUL YADAV Signing Date:09.09.2026 17:22:24