Jagannath S/o Heera Ji Dangi (Patel) v. State of Rajasthan
2016-08-16
SANDEEP MEHTA
body2016
DigiLaw.ai
ORDER : Mr. Sandeep Mehta, J. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Public Prosecutor. Perused the material available on record. 2. The present third application for bail has been filed under Section 439 Cr.P.C. on behalf of the petitioner Jagannath, who is in custody in connection with F.I.R. No. 455/2014, Police Station Pindwada, Sirohi, for the offences under Sections 8/15 and 29 of the NDPS Act and Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120B IPC. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that though the petitioner has criminal antecedents including four other cases under the NDPS Act but in none of these cases, was the petitioner apprehended while being in physical possession of the contraband. He further submits that in one of the cases registered at the PS Dungla, the petitioner has been acquitted by the competent Court after trial. In two others, he has been granted bail. He further submits that in the case at hand, the highest allegation of the prosecution is that the petitioner was escorting the Truck No. HR55.N.7314 from wherein, the contraband poppy straw was recovered. He submits that the prosecution has set up a theory that the petitioner was driving the Scorpio Vehicle No. RJ27.UA.4933 on the very same route through which, the above truck passed and thus, he was escorting the offending vehicle. He submits that as per the record collected by the Investigating Officer from the TOLL Booth concerned, entry of the truck No. HR55.N.7314 is reflected in the data of the TOLL Booth operator. However, there is no entry pertaining to the petitioner's Scorpio vehicle in the record maintained at the TOLL Booth. He urges that the case set up by the investigating agency regarding the petitioner having escorted the offending vehicle whilst transporting the contraband is false and concocted. He thus prays that the petitioner, who is in custody in this case from 10.1.2015 deserves to be released on bail as prima-facie, the restrictions contained in Section 37 of the NDPS Act do not operate against the petitioner. 4. Learned Public Prosecutor vehemently opposes the submissions advanced by the petitioner's counsel and urges that the petitioner has a criminal history including few more cases under the NDPS Act and therefore, he should not be released on bail.
4. Learned Public Prosecutor vehemently opposes the submissions advanced by the petitioner's counsel and urges that the petitioner has a criminal history including few more cases under the NDPS Act and therefore, he should not be released on bail. However, he candidly concedes that in none of the other criminal cases registered against the petitioner, was he found in physical possession of the contraband narcotic. It is also not disputed by the learned Public Prosecutor that the passage of the vehicle allegedly being driven by the petitioner by way of an escort is not established in the entries/details collected by the Investigating Officer from the concerned TOLL Booth. 5. In this view of the matter, this Court is of the opinion that the restriction contained in Section 37 of the NDPS Act does not operate to the prejudice of the petitioner and consequently, he is entitled to be released on bail. 6. Consequently, the bail application is allowed. It is ordered that the accused-petitioner namely Jagannath arrested in connection with F.I.R. No. 455/2014, Police Station Pindwada, Sirohi shall be released on bail; provided he furnishes a personal bond of Rs.1,00,000/- and two surety bonds of Rs.50,000/- each to the satisfaction of the learned trial court with the stipulation to appear before that Court on all dates of hearing and as and when called upon to do so.