1 2026:HHC:39407 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CrMP(M) No.   : 1762 of 2026 Decided on     :    15.09.2026 Prem Pal …Applicant Versus State of H.P. …Respondent Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh,  Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the applicant      :  Mr. K.S. Gill, Advocate. For the respondent   : Mr. H.S. Rawat, Additional Advocate General,   assisted   by   Ms. Ranjna Patial, Deputy Advocate General. Virender Singh, Judge. (Oral) By way of the present application, filed, under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘BNSS’), a prayer has been   made   by   applicant­Prem   Pal  to   release  him,   on interim   bail,   in   case   FIR   No.   13   of   2023,   dated   9th February, 2023, registered under Section 20­61­85 of the Narcotic   Drugs   and   Psychotropic   Substances   Act 1 Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 2 2026:HHC:39407 (hereinafter referred to as ‘NDPS Act’) with Police Station Majra, District Sirmaur, H.P. 2. According   to   the   applicant,   he   is   in   judicial custody since 9th February, 2023 and is presently lodged in Model Central Jail, Nahan. 3. It is the case of the applicant that he has no connection with the commission of the alleged offence and has falsely been roped into the controversy. 4. As per the applicant, he is a law abiding citizen and is permanent resident of the address, as mentioned in the bail application. 5. According   to   the   applicant,   he   will   face   evil consequences, in the event of refusal of the grant of bail to him. 6. The relief of interim bail has been sought, by the applicant, on the ground, to attend the marriage of his niece,   which   is   scheduled   to   be   held   on   19th  to   21st September,   2026. In   the   alternative,   it   has   also   been argued that the applicant be sent under Police escort. 3 2026:HHC:39407 7. Apart from this, the applicant has given certain undertakings, for which, he is ready to abide by, in case, he is ordered to be released on interim bail. 8. Earlier,   the   applicant   had   approached   this Court   by   filing   applications   for   release   on   regular   bail, however, the said applications have been dismissed. 9. On the basis of above facts, a prayer has been made to allow the present bail application. 10. When put to notice, the status report, on behalf of the respondent­State, has been filed, mentioning therein that the applicant has been arrested, in a case, registered under Section 20­61­85 of the NDPS Act. 11. As per the status report, Constable Jasvinder Singh,   SIU   Nahan,   submitted   a   rukka,   to   the   Police Station, mentioning therein, that on 9th  February, 2023, ASI Mahipal, alongwith the police party, was on patrolling duty. At about 9.30 a.m., when ASI Mahipal was present at Dhaula Kuan, then, he received a secret information that   a   person,   namely   Prem   Pal   (applicant),   resident   of Dodra Kwar, is coming in Maruti Car, bearing registration No. HP 77 3555, from Baayla side and is involved in the 4 2026:HHC:39407 business   of   sale   of   charas. As   per   the   said   secret information, in case, his vehicle is searched, then, charas in huge quantity could be recovered. On finding the said information to be authentic and reliable, the provisions of Section   42(2)   of   NDPS   Act   were   complied   with,   by submitting report to SDPO. 11.1. At   about   01.15   p.m.,   Maruti   Car,   bearing registration No. HP 77 3555, was found coming from Bayla side, which was stopped and only one person was found sitting   in   the   said   vehicle. ASI   Mahipal   disclosed   the identity of the entire team to the said person and disclosed to him about the secret information. In the meantime, a car   was   found   coming   from   Baayla   side,   which   was signalled to stop. In the said vehicle, two persons, namely, OP Thakur and Suresh Dutt, were found travelling, who were   associated   in   the   investigation   of   the   case,   as independent witnesses. 11.2. Thereafter, driver of vehicle No. HP 77 3555 was asked about his identity, who disclosed his name as Prem Pal   (applicant). He   was   apprised   about   the   secret information,   having   been   received   by   the   police. 5 2026:HHC:39407 Subsequently, his vehicle was searched. During search, black coloured stick shaped substance was found inside two polythene packets, kept inside a bag, in the dickey of the car, which, on the basis of experience, was found to be charas. 11.3. On weighment, on electronic weighing machine, the   said   charas   was   found   to   be   9.824   kg. The contraband,   so   recovered,   was   taken   into   possession. Other codal formalities were completed. After completion of the codal formalities, the FIR was registered and the applicant was arrested. 11.4. The contraband, so recovered, was sent to FSL Junga, for chemical analysis, from where, positive report has been received. 11.5. It has been mentioned, in the status report, that the evidence has been closed by the prosecution and delay in the trial has been caused by the accused himself as he has moved the application for recalling the witnesses. 12. On the basis of the above facts, a prayer has been made to dismiss the application. 13. Heard. 6 2026:HHC:39407 14. The evidence on behalf of the prosecution has been completed. The   applicant   has   been   involved,   in   a heinous   offense,   involving   huge   quantity   of   contraband, i.e., 9.824 kilogram of charas. 15. Considering the fact that the trial has already completed, this Court is of the view that the applicant is not able to make out a case for releasing him, on interim bail, at this stage, nor, his prayer, to take him to his native place in police custody, is liable to be accepted, as he is resident of a remote area of District Shimla. 16. Considering all these facts, the application is dismissed. 19. Any   of   the   observations,   made   hereinabove, shall not be taken as an expression of opinion, on the merits of the case, as, these observations, are confined, only, to the disposal of the present bail application. ( Virender Singh ) Judge September 15, 2026 (ps)