Punjab-Haryana High Court
Vinod Kumar Alias Billa vs State Of Punjab on 10 February, 2026
CRM-M-44282-2025
CRM-M-45011-2025
CRM-M-60705-2025 1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH
325+326
CRM-M-44282-2025
VINOD KUMAR ALIAS BILLA
......Petitioner
Versus
STATE OF PUNJAB
......Respondent
CRM-M-45011-2025
BALBIR KUMAR ALIAS KALA
......Petitioner
Versus
STATE OF PUNJAB
......Respondent
CRM-M-60705-2025
ARJU ALIAS ARZOO DEVI
......Petitioner
Versus
STATE OF PUNJAB
......Respondent
Decided on : 10.02.2026
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH
Present: Mr. Prateek Pandit, Advocate,
for the petitioner (in CRM-M-44282-2025),
Mr. Satnam Singh, Advocate,
for the petitioner (in CRM-M-60705-2025), and
Mr. Manjinder Singh Saini, Advocate,
for the petitioner (in CRM-M-45011-2025).
Mr. Rahul Jindal, AAG, Punjab.
****
LAVISHA
2026.02.10 14:46
I attest to the accuracy and
integrity of this document
PHHC, Chandigarh
CRM-M-44282-2025
CRM-M-45011-2025
CRM-M-60705-2025 2
SANJAY VASHISTH, J.
1. By this common order, all the aforementioned petitions, i.e. CRM-M-44282-2025, CRM-M-45011-2025 and CRM-M-60705-2025 shall stand disposed of.
2. Petition, i.e. CRM-M-44282-2025 has filed by the petitioner
- Vinod Kumar alias Billa, seeking grant of regular bail, in case, FIR No.76, dated 08.05.2023, under Sections 21, 25, 29 of NDPS Act, registered at Police Station Sadar, District Jalandhar.
Petition, i.e. CRM-M-45011-2025 has filed by the petitioner
- Balbir Kumar alias Kala, seeking grant of regular bail, in case, FIR No.76, dated 08.05.2023, under Section 21 of NDPS Act (Sections 29/25 of NDPS Act added later on), registered at Police Station Sadar, District Jalandhar.
Petition, i.e. CRM-M-60705-2025 has filed by the petitioner
- Arju alias Arzoo Devi, seeking grant of regular bail, in case, FIR No.76, dated 08.05.2023, under Section 21 of NDPS Act (sections 29/25/61/85 of NDPS Act added later on), registered at Police Station Sadar, District Jalandhar.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioners contends that, as per the case of the prosecution, on 08.05.2023, a naka was set up at the T-point at Qadian, District Jalandhar, where members of the police party were present. A Swift Dzire car, bearing registration No.PB-08-EW-1600 was noticed approaching the said naka. On noticing the police party, the car allegedly attempted to turn back. The vehicle was stopped and, upon LAVISHA 2026.02.10 14:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh CRM-M-44282-2025 CRM-M-45011-2025 CRM-M-60705-2025 3 inquiry, search of the car was conducted in the presence of a Gazetted Officer.
Driver of the car disclosed his name as Happy, while two women sitting on the rear seat disclosed their names as Darshna Rani, aged about 60 years, and Arju @ Arzoo Devi, aged about 32 years. From the dashboard of the car, 500 grams of heroin along with Rs.5,000/- allegedly constituting drug money was recovered.
Accused Happy, driver of the car, was arrested at the spot. Petitioner-Vinod Kumar @ Billa (in CRM-M-44282-2025) was subsequently nominated as an accused, on the basis of the disclosure statement made by petitioner-Arju @ Arzoo Devi (in CRM-M-60705- 2025), as the alleged supplier of the recovered contraband. It is submitted that at the time of effecting the recovery, and even thereafter, nothing was recovered from the possession of petitioner-Arju @ Arzoo Devi.
3. Further, case of the prosecution is that after the arrest of petitioner-Vinod Kumar @ Billa, and pursuant to his disclosure statement, a recovery of 300 grams of heroin is shown to have been effected from his house.
Learned counsel for petitioner-Vinod Kumar @ Billa submits that apart from the present case, he has been implicated in 15 other criminal cases; however, in 11 of those cases, he has already been acquitted. In only one case, i.e. FIR No. 15 of 2013 under Section 22 of the NDPS Act registered at Police Station Division No.7, he was LAVISHA 2026.02.10 14:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh CRM-M-44282-2025 CRM-M-45011-2025 CRM-M-60705-2025 4 convicted and sentenced to the period already undergone, i.e. seven months.
Learned counsel for petitioner-Vinod Kumar @ Billa further submits that it is a modus operandi of the Punjab Police to implicate an accused in multiple cases, once he is involved in one such case.
4. With regard to petitioner-Arju @ Arzoo Devi, learned counsel submits that she is shown to be involved in three other criminal cases. However, it is fairly conceded that she has been granted the concession of anticipatory bail in two of those cases, and in the remaining case, i.e. FIR No.20 dated 26.02.2021 under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act, registered at Police Station Sadar, Jalandhar, she stood convicted on 06.09.2023. It is, however, emphasized that nothing was recovered from her possession in the present case, at the time of her arrest.
5. Insofar as petitioner-Balbir Kumar @ Kala is concerned, learned counsel submits that although, he is shown to be involved in 37 other criminal cases, but most of them pertain to offences under the Excise Act, except for three cases registered under the NDPS Act.
6. Learned counsel for the petitioners jointly submit that out of total 30 prosecution witnesses, not even a single witness has been examined so far, despite the charges having been framed on 03.01.2025, i.e. more than one year ago.
Petitioner-Balbir Kumar @ Kala is in custody since 22.07.2023, i.e. for a period of 02 years, 06 months and 10 days; LAVISHA 2026.02.10 14:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh CRM-M-44282-2025 CRM-M-45011-2025 CRM-M-60705-2025 5 petitioner-Arju @ Arzoo Devi is in custody since 12.05.2023, i.e. for a period of 02 years, 08 months and 26 days; and petitioner-Vinod Kumar @ Billa is in custody since 04.03.2024, i.e. for a period of 01 year, 11 months and 03 days.
7. Additionally, it is submitted that co-accused - Darshna Rani has already been granted the concession of regular bail by this Court, vide order dated 27.10.2025 passed in CRM-M-14879-2025.
It is, therefore, jointly submitted that considering the prolonged period of incarceration already undergone by the petitioners, coupled with the stage of the trial, which is likely to take considerable time to conclude, petitioners deserve the concession of regular bail in the present case.
8. In response to the arguments addressed by learned counsel for the petitioners, learned State counsel, produces the custody certificates dated 07.02.2026 of all the three petitioners, in the Court today, which are taken on record. Office to tag the same at appropriate place. A copy thereof has been handed over to the counsel for the petitioners.
As per the custody certificate, in the present case, petitioner
- Vinod Kumar alias Billa has already undergone for a period of 01 years, 11 months and 03 days inside jail. Petitioner - Balvir Kumar alias Kala has already undergone for a period of 02 years, 06 months and 10 days inside jail. Petitioner - Arzu alias Arzoo Devi has already undergone for a period of 02 years, 08 months and 26 days inside jail. LAVISHA 2026.02.10 14:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh CRM-M-44282-2025 CRM-M-45011-2025 CRM-M-60705-2025 6
9. Learned State counsel, while opposing the prayer and submissions advanced on behalf of the petitioners, submits that considering the nature and gravity of the offence alleged against them, and more particularly the fact that they are involved in several other criminal cases apart from the present one, and have also suffered conviction in one or more cases, they are not entitled to the concession of regular bail. Accordingly, he prays for dismissal of all the present petitions.
10. This Court has heard the submissions advanced by learned counsel for the parties and has carefully perused the record available before it, and finds that, in several cases arising under the NDPS Act in the State of Punjab, concerns have been repeatedly expressed with regard to non-destruction or non-disposal of case property, i.e. seized narcotic substances, in accordance with the statutory rules and guidelines framed by the Courts. It has been alleged that such lapses create scope for misuse and for false implication of individuals. As jointly submitted by learned counsel for the petitioners, that the modus operandi of the Punjab Police is to involve an accused in multiple cases once he is implicated in one, thereby frustrating the grant of bail. Even, in many such cases, no contraband or narcotic substance is recovered from the accused persons.
Be that as it may, it is not in dispute that the co-accused, namely Darshna Rani, has already been granted the concession of regular bail by this Court, vide order dated 27.10.2025 passed in CRM-M-14879- 2025. It is further a matter of record that out of total 30 prosecution LAVISHA 2026.02.10 14:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh CRM-M-44282-2025 CRM-M-45011-2025 CRM-M-60705-2025 7 witnesses, none has been examined so far, despite the charges having been framed on 03.01.2025, i.e. more than one year ago.
11. In view of the totality of the circumstances, nature of the allegations levelled against the petitioners, parity with the co-accused, stage of the trial, and the prolonged period of incarceration already undergone by all three petitioners, this Court deems it appropriate to grant the concession of regular bail to the petitioners in the present case.
Consequently, prayer made in the present petitions are allowed. Petitioners - Vinod Kumar alias Billa (in CRM-M-44282- 2025), Balbir Kumar alias Kala (in CRM-M-45011-2025) and Arju alias Arzoo Devi (in CRM-M-60705-2025), are ordered to be released on bail, subject to their furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the learned trial Court/ Chief Judicial Magistrate/ Illaqa Magistrate/ Duty Magistrate concerned, if not required in any other case.
12. Needless to observe that the petitioners shall not extend any threat and shall not influence any prosecution witness in any manner directly or indirectly.
13. Any of the discussion done and recorded here above, shall not be construed as an expression of opinion on the facts of the case. Therefore, trial Court is expected to decide the case by taking an independent view, on the basis of evidence available on record, as expeditiously as possible, in accordance with law. LAVISHA 2026.02.10 14:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh CRM-M-44282-2025 CRM-M-45011-2025 CRM-M-60705-2025 8
14. It is further made clear that if, in future, petitioners are directly found indulged in similar kind of activities, this order shall be deemed to be cancelled.
15. All the present petitions stand disposed of.
16. A photocopy of this order be placed on the files of other connected cases.
(SANJAY VASHISTH) JUDGE 10.02.2026 Lavisha Whether Speaking/Reasoned: YES/NO Whether Reportable: YES/NO LAVISHA 2026.02.10 14:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh