( 2026:JHHC:11738 ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI B.A. No. 3242 of 2026 ------ Taleshwar Ganjhu @ Taleshwar Singh Bhokta, aged about 40 years, s/o Sohari Ganjhu @ Sohrai Singh Bhokta, r/o Village- Sikidag, P.O. & P.S.-Kunda, Dist.-Chatra … Petitioner Versus The State of Jharkhand … Opposite Party ------ CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR CHOUDHARY ------ For the Petitioner : Ms. Tanu Kumari, Advocate For the State : Mr. Bhola N. Ojha, Spl. P.P. ------ Order No.02 Dated- 22.04.2026 Heard the parties. The petitioner has moved this Court for grant of bail in connection with Kunda P.S. Case No.17 of 2023 (NDPS Case No. 4 of 2026) registered for the offences punishable under sections 15/18/21/22/25(a)/27(a)/29/30 of the N.D.P.S. Act. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the allegation against the petitioner is that the petitioner was involved in illegal trade of opium along with co-accused- Nabhuoli Ganjhu and 16 kg of opium was seized from co-accused- Nabhuoli Ganjhu who claims to be in joint possession of the said seized opium along with the petitioner. It is further submitted that the allegations against the petitioner are all false and the petitioner was not arrested along with co-accused-Nabhuoli Ganjhu and Nabhuoli Ganjhu after facing trial has been acquitted. Hence, it is submitted that the petitioner be admitted to bail. The learned Spl. P.P. on the other hand opposes the prayer for bail and submits that keeping in view the involvement of opium in commercial quantity, the rigors of Section 37 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 is attracted in this case and in the absence of any material to suggest that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the petitioner is not guilty of the offence and that he is not likely to commit any offence if released on bail more so, because of serious nature of allegation, as there is every chance of the petitioner absconding or tampering with evidence if released on bail, the petitioner ought not to be admitted to bail. Considering the serious nature of allegation against the petitioner and recovery of opium in commercial quantity and in the absence of any material to suggest that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the petitioner is not guilty of the offence and that he is not likely to commit any offence, if released on bail, as also the chance of the petitioner absconding or tampering with evidence if released on bail, this Court is of the considered view that this is not a fit case where the abovenamed petitioner be admitted to bail. Accordingly, the prayer for bail of the abovenamed petitioner is rejected at this stage. (Anil Kumar Choudhary, J.) 22.04.2026 Gunjan-