Punjab-Haryana High Court
Kulwant Kaur@Kanto@Banto vs State Of Punjab on 21 July, 2023
Author: Vikas Bahl
Bench: Vikas Bahl
Neutral Citation No:=2023:PHHC:092707
CRM-M-21346-2023 (O&M) [1] 2023:PHHC:092707
241
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT
CHANDIGARH
CRM-M-21346-2023 (O&M)
Date of decision: 21.07.2023
Kulwant Kaur @ Kanto @ Banto
...Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab
...Respondent
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKAS BAHL
Present: Mr. P.S. Sekhon, Advocate for the petitioner.
Mr. Rohit Bansal, Sr. DAG, Punjab
****
VIKAS BAHL, J. (ORAL)
1. This is the third petition filed under Section 439 of Cr.P.C. for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in FIR No.114 dated 24.11.2021 registered under Sections 21, 22-C and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 at Police Station Badali Ala Singh, District Fatehgarh Sahib.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner is in custody since 25.11.2021 and the investigation is complete and challan has been presented and there are 19 prosecution witnesses, out of which, 12 witnesses are yet to be examined and thus, the conclusion of trial is likely to take time. It is also contended that the first bail application of the petitioner was dismissed as withdrawn at that stage on 29.11.2022 1 of 10 ::: Downloaded on - 25-07-2023 02:20:38 ::: Neutral Citation No:=2023:PHHC:092707 CRM-M-21346-2023 (O&M) [2] 2023:PHHC:092707 and thereafter, the petitioner had filed a second petition seeking interim bail which was withdrawn on 21.03.2023 and since, the second petition was for grant of interim bail, thus, in effect, the present petition is the second regular bail application. It is further submitted that even after withdrawal of the last petition, sufficient time has lapsed and yet the trial has not concluded thus, entitling the petitioner to file the present bail petition. It is contended the petitioner is not involved in any other case under the NDPS Act. It is further contended that the petitioner is a woman and neither she was arrested on the spot and nor was named in the FIR nor there was any secret information against her and she has been implicated in the case on the basis of disclosure statement made by the main accused namely, Mohammad Aslam and keeping in view the length of the custody undergone by the petitioner, she deserves the concession of regular bail, as any further incarceration would be violative of the right of the petitioner enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Learned counsel for the petitioner has relied upon various orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, wherein, solely on the basis of the custody, the bail has been granted. Reliance has also been placed upon an order of the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in CRM-3773-2019 in CRA-D-198-DB-2017 in case titled as "Bhupender Singh Vs. Narcotic Control Bureau".
3. On the other hand, learned State counsel has opposed the present petition for grant of regular bail to the petitioner and has submitted that after the petitioner was nominated vide the disclosure statement of the main accused Mohammad Aslam, recovery of 52 grams of heroin and 1410 Diphenoxylate tables has been effected from the petitioner and the said 2 of 10 ::: Downloaded on - 25-07-2023 02:20:39 ::: Neutral Citation No:=2023:PHHC:092707 CRM-M-21346-2023 (O&M) [3] 2023:PHHC:092707 recovery falls within the category of commercial quantity and thus, the bar under Section 37 of the NDPS Act would apply in the present case. It is further submitted that Rs.52,000/- drug money has also been recovered from the present petitioner.
4. This Court has heard learned counsel for the parties and has gone through the paper-book.
5. Hon'ble the Supreme Court vide order dated 04.05.2023 passed in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s).3221/2023 in case titled as Hasanujjaman and others Vs. The State of West Bengal, had observed as under:-
"xxx xxx xxx xxx. They were arrested on the spot and have been in custody for more than one year and four months.
3. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and carefully perused the record.
4. The investigation is complete; chargesheet has been filed, though the charges are yet to be framed. The conclusion of trial will, thus, take some reasonable time, regardless of the direction issued by the High Court to conclude the same within one year from the date of framing of charges. The petitioners do not have any criminal antecedents. There is, thus, substantial compliance of Section 37 of the NDPS Act.
5. In such circumstances, but without expressing any views on the merits of the case, we deem it appropriate to release the petitioners on bail subject to the terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Trial Court.
6. Additionally, it is clarified that in case the petitioners are found involved in any other case under the NDPS Act or other penal law, it shall amount to misuse of the concession of bail granted to them today, and in such a case, necessary 3 of 10 ::: Downloaded on - 25-07-2023 02:20:39 ::: Neutral Citation No:=2023:PHHC:092707 CRM-M-21346-2023 (O&M) [4] 2023:PHHC:092707 consequences shall follow.
7. The petitioners are further directed to appear before the Trial Court regularly. In the event of they being absent, it shall again be taken as a misuse of concession of bail.
8. The Special Leave Petition stands disposed of in the above terms.
9. As a result, pending interlocutory application also stands disposed of."
6. A perusal of the same would show that in the abovesaid case, the custody of the accused was 1 year and 4 months and while taking into consideration the fact that investigation has been completed as well as that the conclusion of trial would take time, the Hon'ble Supreme Court was pleased to grant the concession of regular bail to the petitioners therein.
7. Hon'ble Supreme Court in Criminal Appeal No.245/2020 titled as "Chitta Biswas Alias Subhas Vs. The State of West Bengal", vide order dated 07.02.2020, was pleased to grant concession of bail to the petitioner (therein) in a case where the custody was of 1 year and 7 months approximately. The relevant portion of the said order dated 07.02.2020 is as under: -
"Leave granted.
This appeal arises out of the final Order dated 30.7.2010 passed by the High Court of Calcutta in CRM No.6787 of 2019.
The instant matter arises out of application preferred by the appellant under Section 439 Cr.P.C. seeking bail in connection with Criminal Case No.146 of 2018 registered with Taherpur Police Station for offence punishable under Section 21-C of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
According to the prosecution, the appellant was found to 4 of 10 ::: Downloaded on - 25-07-2023 02:20:39 ::: Neutral Citation No:=2023:PHHC:092707 CRM-M-21346-2023 (O&M) [5] 2023:PHHC:092707 be in possession of narcotic substance i.e. 46 bottles of phensydryl cough syrup containing codeine mixture above commercial quantity.
The appellant was arrested on 21.07.2018 and continues to be in custody. It appears that out of 10 witnesses cited to be examined in support of the case of prosecution four witnesses have already been examined in the trial.
Without expressing any opinion on the merits or demerits of the rival submissions and considering the facts and circumstances on record, in our view, case for bail is made out. We therefore, allow this appeal and direct as under:
(a) Subject to furnishing bail bond in the sum of Rs.2 lakhs with two like sureties to the satisfaction of the Judge, Special Court, NDPS Act, Nadia at Krishnagar, the appellant shall be released on bail.
(b) The Special Court may impose such other conditions as it deems appropriate to ensure the presence and participation of the appellant in the pending trial. With the aforesaid directions, the appeal stands allowed."
8. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in case titled as "Mohammad Salman Hanif Shaikh Vs. The State of Gujarat, vide order dated 22.08.2022 passed in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No.5530-2022 was pleased to observe as under: -
"We are inclined to release the petitioner on bail only on the ground that he has spent about two years in custody and conclusion of trial will take some time.
Consequently, without expressing any views on the merits of the case and taking into consideration the custody period of the petitioner, this special leave petition is accepted and the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail subject to his furnishing the bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Special Judge/ 5 of 10 ::: Downloaded on - 25-07-2023 02:20:39 ::: Neutral Citation No:=2023:PHHC:092707 CRM-M-21346-2023 (O&M) [6] 2023:PHHC:092707 concerned Trial Court.
The special leave petition is, accordingly, disposed of in the above terms.
Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of."
9. The above-said case was also a case under the NDPS Act and the FIR had been registered under Sections 8(c), 21(c) and 29 of the said Act. The case of the prosecution therein was that the recovery from the said petitioner (therein) was of commercial quantity. The Hon'ble Supreme Court had observed that the concession of bail was being granted to the petitioner (therein) only on the ground that he had spent about two years in custody and the conclusion of trial will take some time.
10. In another case i.e., Criminal Appeal No.1169 of 2022 titled as "Gopal Krishna Patra @ Gopalrusma Vs. Union of India,", vide order dated 05.08.2022, the Hon'ble Supreme Court was pleased to observe as under: -
"Leave granted.
This appeal challenges the judgment and order dated 25.01.2022 passed by the High Court Of Madhya Pradesh, Principal Seat at Jabalpur, in MCRC No.117/2022. The appellant is in custody since 18.06.2020 in connection with crime registered as N.C.B. Crime No.02/2020 in respect of offences punishable under Sections 8, 20, 27-AA, 28 read with 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
The application seeking relief of bail having been rejected, the instant appeal has been filed.
We have heard Mr. Ashok Kumar Panda, learned Senior Advocate in support of the appeal and Mr. Sanjay Jain, learned 6 of 10 ::: Downloaded on - 25-07-2023 02:20:39 ::: Neutral Citation No:=2023:PHHC:092707 CRM-M-21346-2023 (O&M) [7] 2023:PHHC:092707 Additional Solicitor General for the respondent.
Considering the facts and circumstances on record and the length of custody undergone by the appellant, in our view the case for bail is made out.
We therefore, direct that:
(a) The appellant shall be produced before the Trial Court within five days from today.
(b) The Trial Court shall release the appellant on bail subject to such conditions as the Trial Court may deem appropriate to impose.
(c) The appellant shall not in any manner misuse his liberty.
(d) Any infraction shall entail in withdrawal of the benefit granted by this Order.
The appeal is allowed in aforesaid terms."
11. A perusal of the above-said order would show that in the said case also the custody was of approximately 2 years, 1 month and 17 days and the case was under the NDPS Act and primarily, considering the longevity of the custody period, concession of bail was granted to the petitioner (therein).
12. The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No.5769/2022 titled as "Nitish Adhikary @ Bapan Vs. The State of West Bengal", vide order dated 01.08.2022, was pleased to observe as under: -
"As per the office report dated 29.07.2022, copy of the show cause notice along with Special Leave Petition was supplied to the Standing Counsel for the State of West Bengal and separate notice has been served on the State also. However, no one has entered appearance on their behalf.
7 of 10 ::: Downloaded on - 25-07-2023 02:20:39 ::: Neutral Citation No:=2023:PHHC:092707 CRM-M-21346-2023 (O&M) [8] 2023:PHHC:092707 The petitioner seeks enlargement on bail in F.I.R. No. 612 of 2020 dated 17.10.2020 filed under Section 21(c) and 37 of the NDPS Act, registered at Police Station Bongaon, West Bengal.
During the course of the hearing, we are informed that the petitioner has undergone custody for a period of 01 year and 07 months as on 09.06.2022. The trial is at a preliminary stage, as only one witness has been examined. The petitioner does not have any criminal antecedents.
Taking into consideration the period of sentence undergone by the petitioner and all the attending circumstances but without expressing any views in the merits of the case, we are inclined to grant bail to the petitioner.
The petitioner is accordingly, directed to be released on bail subject to him furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Trial Court.
The Special Leave Petition is disposed of on the aforestated terms.
Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of."
13. A perusal of the said order would also show that the said case was under the NDPS Act and the provision of Section 37 of the NDPS Act were also mentioned in the same and the bail was granted primarily by considering the petitioner (therein) had undergone custody for a period of 01 year and 07 months and only one witness had been examined and that the petitioner (therein) did not have any criminal antecedents.
14. The Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in Bhupender's case (Supra), had also held that in case, the accused person is able to make out a case within the parameters of Article 21 of the Constitution of India on the basis of period of custody, then he deserves the concession of regular bail, 8 of 10 ::: Downloaded on - 25-07-2023 02:20:39 ::: Neutral Citation No:=2023:PHHC:092707 CRM-M-21346-2023 (O&M) [9] 2023:PHHC:092707 even in the face of rigors of Section 37 of the NDPS Act.
15. A Coordinate Bench of this Court vide order dated 24.04.2023 passed in CRM-M-19626-2022 titled as Roop Singh Vs. State of Punjab has granted the concession of regular bail in a case involving recovery of commercial quantity of poppy husk where the custody was for a period of 1 year, 6 months and 26 days on the ground of long incarceration of the accused person being in violation of right of the accused for speedy trial enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
16. In the present case, the petitioner is in custody since 25.11.2021 and investigation is complete and challan has been presented and out of 19 prosecution witnesses, 12 witnesses are yet to be examined and thus, the conclusion of trial is likely to take time. The petitioner is stated to be not involved in any other case under the NDPS Act and keeping the petitioner in further incarceration would be violative of her right enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
17. Keeping in view the above-said facts and circumstances as well as the law laid down in the above-said judgments, the present petition is allowed and the petitioner is directed to be released on regular bail on her furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court/Duty Magistrate and subject to her not being required in any other case. The petitioner shall also abide by the following conditions:-
a). The petitioner will not tamper with the evidence during the trial.
b). The petitioner will not pressurize / intimidate the prosecution witness(s).
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c). The petitioner will appear before the trial Court on the date fixed, unless personal presence is exempted.
d). The petitioner shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which she is accused of, or for commission of which she is suspected.
e). The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence.
18. In case of breach of any of the above conditions, the prosecution shall be at liberty to move an application for cancellation of bail before this Court.
19. Nothing stated above shall be construed as a final expression of opinion on the merits of the case and the trial Court would proceed independently of the observations made in the present case which are only for the purpose of adjudicating the present bail petition.
20. All the pending miscellaneous applications, if any, shall stand disposed of in view of the abovesaid judgment.
21.07.2023 (VIKAS BAHL)
Pawan JUDGE
Whether speaking/reasoned:- Yes/No
Whether reportable:- Yes/No
Neutral Citation No:=2023:PHHC:092707
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