Punjab-Haryana High Court
Baljinder Singh vs State Of Punjab on 24 February, 2026
Author: Rajesh Bhardwaj
Bench: Rajesh Bhardwaj
CRM-M-25501-2025 and
6 other connected cases -1-
128/2+129+131+135+136+137+205
THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH
1. CRM-M-25501-2025
Baljinder Singh ..... Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab ..... Respondent
2. CRM-M-30312-2025
Intjar Salmani ....Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab ....Respondent
3. CRM-M-37255-2025
Jaspreet Singh @ Jass ....Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab ....Respondent
4. CRM-M-46714-2025
Suba Singh ....Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab ....Respondent
5. CRM-M-50335-2025
Abhishek Kumar Chauhan @ Abhishek Kumar ....Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab ....Respondent
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CRM-M-25501-2025 and
6 other connected cases -2-
6. CRM-M-52284-2025
Nikhil Garg ....Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab ....Respondent
7. CRM-M-8958-2026
Vishu Kumar @ Vishal
....Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab ....Respondent
Date of decision: 24.02.2026
CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH BHARDWAJ
Present: Mr. Gautam Dutt, Senior Advocate with
Mr. Saurabh Sharma, Advocate and
Mr. Yajur Mago, Advocate (in CRM-M-52284-2025)
Mr. B.S. Bhalla, Advocate (in CRM-M-25501-2025)
Mr. Rishu Mahajan, Advocate (in CRM-M-46714-2025)
Mr. Edward Augustine George, Advocate
(in CRM-M-50335-2025)
Mr. Sandeep Gorsi, Advocate and
Mr. Nishant Kasana, Advocate (in CRM-M-37255-2025)
Mr. Tushar Sharma, Advocate with
Ms. Shireen Kaur, Advocate (in CRM-M-30312-2025)
Mr. Vibhu Agnihotri, Advocate and
Mr. Himanshu Pal, Advocate (in CRM-M-8958-2026)
for the petitioner(s).
Mr. Raj Karan Singh, AAG, Punjab assisted by
SI Charanjeet and SI Kulbir Singh.
RAJESH BHARDWAJ, J.
1. This common order shall dispose of the aforementioned seven petitions as they have arisen out of the same FIR. However, for the sake of brevity, the facts are taken from CRM-M-30312-2025 filed by petitioner-Intjar Salmani.
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2. Petitioners have approached this Court by way of filing the present petitions praying for grant of regular bail to them in case FIR No.31 dated 20.02.2024, under Sections 22/25/27-A/29/61/85 of the NDPS Act, registered at Police Station STF, SAS Nagar, Mohali.
3. Succinctly, facts of the case are that on 19.02.2024 at about 11:00 PM, police received a secret information that Sukhwinder Singh @ Dhami and Jaspreet Singh @ Jass (petitioner in CRM-M-37255-2025) were involved in a large-scale business of selling illegal drugs. It was informed that both were bringing drugs from Saharanpur and were supplying them in the areas of Amritsar and Tarn Taran. It was also informed that Sukhwinder Singh @ Dhami had also arranged a warehouse/place near Green Avenue, close to the police lines in Tarn Taran to store the drugs. If the barricading was laid near the Beas River Bridge, both of them could be arrested along with the contraband. On receiving the secret information, the police laid the barricading at the disclosed place. The Swift Car bearing No.PB-46-Z-8585 as disclosed in the secret information was seen coming in which two persons were sitting. The Car was stopped and on asking, the person who was driving the car, disclosed his name to be Sukhwinder Singh @ Dhami and the person who was sitting on the passenger seat, disclosed his name to be Jaspreet Singh @ Jass (Petitioner in CRM-M-37255-2025). Since it was very dark, both were taken near the Beas Bridge checkpoint along with their Car. They were suspected to be carrying some contraband in their Swift Car thus, they were given an offer to search and thereafter, the 3 of 14 ::: Downloaded on - 14-03-2026 02:01:14 ::: CRM-M-25501-2025 and 6 other connected cases -4- search was conducted. During the search, from the back seat of the Car, six cartons(boxes) and from the car's trunk, three cartons(boxes) and in total nine cartons(boxes) of illegal drugs were recovered. On checking, from eight cartons(boxes), 100 tablets of Tramadol Hydrochloride weighing 100 mg each were found and each carton contained 47000 illegal pills, making a total of 3,76,000 intoxicant pills. From the another carton(box), 40 packs of 600/600, totalling 24,000 illegal tablets containing Alprazolam, were recovered. In addition to the said contraband, a wax-sealed envelope was also found in the Car's dashboard which contained total 200 Indian Currency notes of Rs.500/- denomination and thus, total amounting to Rs.1,00,000/-. Both of them failed to produce any license regarding the possession of the same. FIR was registered and both were arrested on the spot. Investigation commenced and complicity of other petitioners/co-accused surfaced during the investigation and thus, they were subsequentely arrested. The samples taken were sent to the FSL. On completion of the investigation, challan was presented. On framing of charges, the trial commenced. Petitioners approached the learned Judge, Special Court, Amritsar praying for grant of bail, however, after hearing counsel for the parties, learned Judge, Special Court, Amritsar, declined the petitions filed by petitioner-Baljinder Singh (in CRM-M-25501-2025); petitioner-Suba Singh (in CRM-M-46714-2025); petitioner-Intjar Salmani (in CRM-M- 30312-2025) vide order dated 13.05.2024; petitioner-Jaspreet Singh @ Jass (in CRM-M-37255-2025) vide order dated 23.08.2024; petitioner-
4 of 14 ::: Downloaded on - 14-03-2026 02:01:14 ::: CRM-M-25501-2025 and 6 other connected cases -5- Abhishek Kumar Chauhan @ Abhishek Kumar (in CRM-M-50335-2025) vide order dated 02.07.2024; petitioner-Nikhil Garg (in CRM-M-52284- 2025) vide order dated 12.09.2024; and petitioner-Vishu Kumar @ Vishal (in CRM-M-8958-2026) vide order dated 03.02.2026. Petitioners earlier approached this Court by way of filing their respective petitions; however, the same were dismissed on different dates. Hence, being aggrieved, all the petitioners are before this Court by way of filing the present petition. However Vishu Kumar @ Vishal (petitioner in CRM- M-8958-2026) has approached this Court by way of filing the second application for grant of regular bail and his earlier bail petition was dismissed vide order dated 24.02.2025 on merits by this Court which was assailed by the said petitioner before the Hon'ble Supreme Court by way of SLP (Crl.) Nos.4757-2025 and the same was also dismissed vide order dated 09.04.2025.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioners has submitted that petitioner-Baljinder Singh in CRM-M-25501-2025 and petitioner-Suba Singh in CRM-M-46714-2025 are falsely and frivolously implicated in these cases. It has been submitted that neither the petitioners are named in the FIR nor any overt act has been attributed to them. It has further been submitted that petitioners were arrayed on the basis of disclosure statement of co-accused namely, Prince Mahindru which is not an admissible evidence and were arrested on 15.04.2024 and 16.04.2024, respectively. It has been submitted that though petitioner-Baljinder Singh is involved in one more FIR i.e. FIR No.206 dated 04.12.2019, under 5 of 14 ::: Downloaded on - 14-03-2026 02:01:14 ::: CRM-M-25501-2025 and 6 other connected cases -6- Section 353 and 186 of IPC, registered at Police Station Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar, however, he is on bail in that case.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner in CRM-M-30312-2025 has submitted that petitioner-Intjar Salmani is falsely and frivolously implicated in this case. He has submitted that the petitioner was arrayed as an accused on the basis of disclosure statement of co-accused namely, Sukhwinder Singh which is not an admissible evidence and thus, arrested on 03.03.2024. He has submitted that no recovery has been effected from the petitioner.
6. Learned Senior counsel for the petitioner in CRM-M-52284- 2025 and learned counsel for the petitioner in CRM-M-8958-2026 have submitted that petitioner-Nikhil Garg and petitioner-Vishu Kumar @ Vishal have been falsely and frivolously implicated in this case. They have submitted that the petitioners were arrayed as accused during the investigation and were arrested on 22.05.2024. Learned counsel for petitioner-Nikhil Garg has submitted that the petitioner has been nominated in the present case on the allegations that he accompanied Abhishek Chauhan when he took the shop on rent. Learned counsel for petitioner-Vishu Kumar @ Vishal has submitted that the role attributed to the petitioner is that co-accused, Abhishek Kumar, got license of the shop in question issued in his name.
7. Learned counsel for the petitioner in CRM-M-50335-2025 has submitted that petitioner-Abhishek Kumar Chauhan @ Abhishek Kumar has been falsely and frivolously implicated in this case. He has 6 of 14 ::: Downloaded on - 14-03-2026 02:01:14 ::: CRM-M-25501-2025 and 6 other connected cases -7- further submitted that the complicity of the petitioner surfaced during investigation and was arrested on 22.05.2024. Co-accused Vishu Kumar @ Vishal disclosed that license of the shop in question is in his name but is being run by petitioner-Abhishek Kumar Chauhan @ Abhishek Kumar and he was being paid a sum of Rs.50,000/- per month as salary.
8. Thus, learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that there is nothing on record to implicate the petitioners. Even the name of the petitioners in the alleged disclosure statements of the co-accused are hit by Section 27 of Indian Evidence Act and carry no credibility. Moreover, it is apparent that neither the petitioners are a source nor they are the ones who were involved in illegal trafficking of the alleged recovered contraband. It is submitted that in the overall facts and circumstances of the present cases, petitioners deserves to be granted bail.
9. Learned counsel for the petitioner in CRM-M-37255-2025 has submitted that petitioner-Jaspreet Singh @ Jass has been falsely implicated in the present FIR and the alleged recovery of contraband is planted upon him. It is submitted that the recovery of contraband was effected from the public place however, no independent witness has been joined hence, mandatory provisions of Section 42 of the NDPS Act has not been complied with. It is also submitted that there is also violation of Section 50 of the NDPS Act. It is submitted that in the overall facts and circumstances of the present case, petitioner deserves to be granted bail.
10. Status report by way of affidavit of Mr. Ravisher Singh, PPS, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Anti Narcotics Task Force, Border 7 of 14 ::: Downloaded on - 14-03-2026 02:01:14 ::: CRM-M-25501-2025 and 6 other connected cases -8- Range, Amritsar, filed by learned State counsel in CRM-M-52284-2025 is taken on record.
11. Learned State counsel has vehemently opposed the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioners. He has submitted that petitioner-Jaspreet Singh @ Jass was specifically named in the secret information and recovery of the contraband has been effected from the car in which he was travelling. Total recovery of 3,76,000 tablets of Tramadol weighing 75.576 kgs and 24,000 tablets of Alprazolam weighing 5.826 kgs along with Rs.1,00,000/- as drug money were effected from the said car. He further submits that during investigation, name of co-accused namely, Alex Paliwal and Intjar Salmani surfaced being supplier of the recovered contraband and from the house of co-accused Alex Paliwal, further recovery of 9,04,776 tablets were effected containing following contrabands:-
Sr. No. Name of contraband Weight of contraband
1. Tramadol Hydrochloride 116.926 kgs
2. Alprazolam 732 grams
3. Diphinoxilate Hydrochloride 13.764 kgs Along with abovesaid contraband, drug money of Rs.1,37,000/- was also recovered. It is submitted that further during investigation, Intjar Salmani was also apprehended on the basis of secret information, though no recovery was effected from him but he specifically stated that he was constantly in touch with co-accused Alex Paliwal and some other co-
accused.
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12. Learned State counsel further submits that during investigation, it was further revealed that the contraband which was sold by co-accused namely, Alex Paliwal and Intjar to Sukhwinder Singh and Jaspreet Singh @ Jass, was further supplied to one Prince who sold it to one of the petitioners before this Court i.e. Suba Singh and co-accused also sold it to one Baljinder Singh who are before this Court as petitioners. That both Suba Singh and Baljinder Singh were apprehended on 16.04.2024 and 15.04.2024, respectively. During investigation it transpired that both them are the purchasers of the recovered contraband in the present case.
13. Learned State counsel goes on to submit that while all of the accused persons were apprehended and investigated, it transpired that there are some pharmaceutical manufacturing companies namely, Biogenic Drugs Pvt. Ltd., Smilex Pharmachem Drug Industry, (both located at Baddi) and Aster Pharma which is situated at Bombay. He submits that thereafter, these companies were also implicated as accused in the present FIR and nexus of forged billing and supplying of illegal contraband was found. These companies namely, Biogenic Drugs Pvt. Ltd. and Smilex Pharmachem Drug Industry were supposed to supply the consignment of narcotic pills to the company situated at Bombay i.e. Aster Pharma but instead they never made it to the point of destination rather they were routed to Lucknow, Kanpur and Sahranpur and one of the companies which was traced in Saharanpur, it was Shri Shyam Medical Agency. When the investigating agency reached Saharanpur. It 9 of 14 ::: Downloaded on - 14-03-2026 02:01:14 ::: CRM-M-25501-2025 and 6 other connected cases -10- was revealed that there was no Shri Shyam Medical Agency which was associated with Pharmaceutical business rather there was some other enterprises which was being run. It was found that co-accused/petitioners Vishu and Abhishek Kumar jointly took the drug license in the name of Vishnu Kumar and they were to pay Rs.50,000/- per month to him. Vishu Kumar who in collusion with Abhishek Kumar Chauhan and Nikhil Garg was running the network which can be corroborated from the fact that the bills containing the batch Nos. of the narcotic pills which were supplied to Shri Shyam Medical Agency were the ones which got recovered from Sukhwinder, Jaspreet and Alex Paliwal, thereby, exposing the entire network.
14. It is further submitted that this entire network got further exposed and corroborated by the call records which have been obtained by the investigating agency as there are call detail records between the Petitioners and other co-accused. He has submitted that in total 2,68,05,676 intoxicating tablets; 766.39 kgs of intoxicating powder; Rs.2,37,000/- drug money; 03 cars; 01 laptop and mobile phones have been recovered in the present case and the recovered intoxicating tablets and powder falls under the purview of commercial quantity thus, provisions of Section 37 of the NDPS Act are attracted in these cases. He has submitted that challan has been presented, charges have been framed and out of total 47 prosecution witnesses, 29 witnesses have been examined. He has placed on record the custody certificates of the petitioners. He submits that the offence which is committed by the 10 of 14 ::: Downloaded on - 14-03-2026 02:01:14 ::: CRM-M-25501-2025 and 6 other connected cases -11- present petitioners is not against any individual person rather is an offence against the society at large and hence, they does not deserve the concession of regular bail.
15. Perusal of the case shows that petitioner-Vishu Kumar @ Vishal has approached this Court by way of filing the second petition for grant of regular bail and his earlier bail petition was dismissed on merits by this Court vide its order dated 24.02.2025 and the same was assailed by the said petitioner before the Hon'ble Supreme Court by way of SLP (Crl.) Nos.4757-2025 and it was dismissed vide order dated 09.04.2025. Hon'ble Supreme Court while dismissing the said bail application has also directed the trial Court to expedite the trial and conclude the same within six months from the date of order. The operative part of order read as under:-
" ..... However, the trial Court is directed to expedite the trial and conclude the same, preferably, within six months from today, in accordance with law."
16. After hearing learned counsel for the parties and perusing the record, it is deciphered that the petitioners except petitioner-Jaspreet Singh @ Jass, were not named in the FIR however, during investigation the complicity of the petitioners was established, on the basis of disclosure statements of co-accused, who in connivance with each other were involved in the business of sale and purchase of intoxicating substances. In the present case, the total recovery of 2,68,05,676 11 of 14 ::: Downloaded on - 14-03-2026 02:01:15 ::: CRM-M-25501-2025 and 6 other connected cases -12- intoxicating tablets; 766.39 kgs of intoxicating powder; Rs.2,37,000/- drug money; 03 cars; 01 laptop and mobile phones has been effected.
17. After perusal of the record and call details record of the petitioners, it transpires that the role of the petitioners are connected with the co-accused and cannot be seen separately and the entire case indicates an organized chain of drug trafficking. The case before the learned trial Court is at the stage of examination of prosecution witnesses.
18. Custody certificates filed by the State would show that petitioner-Baljinder Singh has undergone sentence of 01 year, 10 months and 03 days as on 23.02.2026. It further reflects that though he was involved in one more case, however, he has been acquitted in the said case. Custody certificate of petitioner namely, Intjar Salmani shows that he has undergone the sentence of 01 year, 11 months and 16 days and custody certificate of petitioner, namely, Jaspreet Singh @ Jass shows that he has undergone the sentence of 01 year, 11 months and 29 days as on 23.02.2026. It further reflects that these petitioners are not involved in any other case. Custody certificate of petitioner-Suba Singh would show that the petitioner has undergone the sentence of 01 year 10 months and 03 days as on 23.02.2026. It further reflects that though the petitioner was involved in two more cases, however, he is on bail in those cases.
19. Hon'ble Supreme Court and this Court has time and again held that long custody cannot be a ground for bail when there is huge recovery effected and it is a big racket involved in manufacturing and supplying of illegal drugs with deep routed conspiracy. The Coordinate 12 of 14 ::: Downloaded on - 14-03-2026 02:01:15 ::: CRM-M-25501-2025 and 6 other connected cases -13- Bench of this Court in CRM-M-51040-2024 (O&M) and other connected matters titled as Rakesh Bansal Vs. State of Punjab has held as under:-
"(18) Although, learned counsel for the petitioner(s) tried to impress upon the Court while citing afore-
mentioned judgments that long custody is sufficient to dilute the rigor of twin-test satisfaction; but this Court is not persuaded for the following reasons:-
(i) in an ordinary case, long incarceration may be a ground for bail, but in the present case, recovery alleged against the petitioners is not only commercial; but heavy in nature, including 3,05,72,696 intoxicant tablets and capsules; 15 kg and 70 gms broken lose tablets; drug money amounting to Rs.9,35,000; six vehicles and 10 mobile phones;
(ii) as on today, 54 PWs have already been examined;
there is no lapse on the part of prosecution and trial is going on a normal pace;
xxxx xxxx xxxx
(iv) above all, some of the petitioners were arrested from different parts of the country i.e. West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and New Delhi which is a pointer to the fact that prima facie, it is a big racket involvedin manufacturing/supplying/selling/transporting of illegal drugs with a deep rooted conspiracy.
In view of the above, this Court is not inclined to record the twintest satisfaction in terms of Section 37(1)
(b)(ii) of the NDPS Act in favour of the petitioner(s)." Even otherwise, Hon'ble Supreme Court in bail petition filed by the accused-petitioner, namely, Vishu Kumar @ Vishal while dismissing the bail application has directed the trial Court to expedite the trial of the present case and conclude the same within six months from 13 of 14 ::: Downloaded on - 14-03-2026 02:01:15 ::: CRM-M-25501-2025 and 6 other connected cases -14- the date of the order i.e. 24.02.2025. Keeping in view the above said position, this Court does not find any ground to release the petitioners on bail, at this stage. Accordingly, the present petitions stand dismissed. However, the trial Court is directed to expedite the trial and conclude the same within four months. Nothing said herein shall be treated as an expression of opinion on the merits of the cases 24.02.2026 (RAJESH BHARDWAJ) m.sharma JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No 14 of 14 ::: Downloaded on - 14-03-2026 02:01:15 :::