Karnataka High Court
Pranav S Katagihallimath vs State By Intelligence Officer on 9 March, 2026
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NC: 2026:KHC:13988
CRL.P No. 642 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 09TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH
CRIMINAL PETITION NO.642 OF 2026
(439(Cr.PC)/ 483(BNSS))
BETWEEN:
PRANAV. S KATAGIHALLIMATH,
S/O. SOMASHEKHAR KATAGIHALLIMATH,
AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS,
R/O.123,
16TH CROSS,
12TH MAIN,
1ST BLOCK,
RAJAJINAGAR,
Digitally
signed by BENGALURU NORTH - 560 010.
SREEDHARAN
BANGALORE
SUSHMA ...PETITIONER
LAKSHMI
Location: High (BY SRI. VISHWANATH K.S., ADVOCATE)
Court of
Karnataka
AND:
STATE BY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU,
BANGALORE ZONAL UNIT,
FULL ADDRESS NO.7/1,
PRIYANK VILLAS,
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NC: 2026:KHC:13988
CRL.P No. 642 of 2026
HC-KAR
KATTIGENAHALLI,
BAGALURU MAIN ROAD,
YELAHANKA,
BANGALORE - 560 064.
...RESPONDENT
(BY SRI. MADHUKAR DESHPANDE, ADVOCATE)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483
BNSS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS PETITION AND GRANT BAIL
TO THE PETITIONER WHO ARE ARRAYED AS ACCUSED NO.2 IN
NCB CRIME NO.48/1/20/2025/BZU REGISTERED BY THE
RESPONDENT NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU FOR THE
ALLEGED OFFENCE PUNISHABLE SECTIONS 8(c), 22(c), 23(c),
27, 27A, 28 AND 29 OF THE NARCOTIC DRUGS AND
PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES ACT, 1985, WHICH IS
PRESENTLY PENDING IN SPL.C.NO.2434 OF 2025 ON THE FILE
OF XXXIII ADDITIONAL CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE AND
SPECIAL JUDGE FOR NDPS CASES AT BENGALURU AND
RELEASE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL AND ETC.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH
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NC: 2026:KHC:13988
CRL.P No. 642 of 2026
HC-KAR
ORAL ORDER
1. The petitioner herein is accused No.2 seeking for regular bail in NCB Crime No.48/1/20/2025/BZU registered by the respondent for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c), 22(c), 23(c), 27, 27A, 28 and 29 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 pending in Spl.C. No.2434/2025 on the file of the learned XXXIII Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge and Special Judge for NDPS cases at Bengaluru.
Brief facts of the case:
2. The case of the prosecution is that on 31.05.2025, the NCB Bangalore Zonal Unit, has received a confidential input regarding the international postal shipment bearing tracking No.RQ137229372DE, originated from Germany and destined to Bangalore. The Investigating Officer suspected that it contained LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) blotter papers, sent a letter to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Foreign Post Office -4- NC: 2026:KHC:13988 CRL.P No. 642 of 2026 HC-KAR and also Postal Appraising Department of Chamarajpet, Bengaluru, requesting to hand over the parcel, which is lying in the Foreign Post Office, Chamarajpet, Bengaluru.
3. It is further submitted that a team of NCB proceeded to the Foreign Post Office, Chamarajpet, Bengaluru, on 02.06.2025, in the presence of two postal officials as independent witnesses, conducted a search and seizure of the said parcel.
4. It is stated that they have opened the envelope, and found three transparent pouches in the said envelope, which contained multi-coloured blotter papers of triangular and square shapes.
5. It is also stated that, 177 blotter papers were recovered from the said parcel, which is considered as LSD. It is stated that the net weight of the said papers was 2.39 grams, which is commercial quantity. -5-
NC: 2026:KHC:13988 CRL.P No. 642 of 2026 HC-KAR
6. Based on the said information, a case came to be registered against accused Nos.1 and 2, and thereafter, conducted an investigation and submitted the charge sheet.
7. Heard Sri. Vishwanath K.S., learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Madhukar Deshpande, learned counsel for the respondent.
8. The submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in this case, and he is innocent of alleged offences. Merely because, the consignment was in the name and address of accused No.2, it cannot be construed that he had committed the offence with intention or knowledge.
9. It is further submitted that, in fact, the search and seizure were conducted in the post office and not in the house of accused No.2. Moreover, the petitioner is a permanent resident of Bangalore, and no monetary transaction had taken place between accused Nos.1 and 2. -6-
NC: 2026:KHC:13988 CRL.P No. 642 of 2026 HC-KAR The petitioner had been implicated in this case at the instance of accused No.1. As the petitioner has not committed any offences and there are no antecedents against this petitioner, he may be enlarged on bail by imposing suitable conditions. Making such submissions, he prays to allow the petition.
10. Per contra, the learned Standing Counsel for Narcotics Control Bureau has filed a statement of objections stating that a monetary transaction had taken place between accused Nos.1 and 2 and they had conscious knowledge about the items which were parcelled from Germany to India. The said parcel contained LSD papers, which is commercial quantity. They had a plan to sell the same, and taken the monetary benefit of the said items. Since the petitioner had committed heinous offence not only against the individual but also against the society at large, it is not appropriate to grant him bail. Making such submission, learned counsel prays to reject the petition.
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NC: 2026:KHC:13988 CRL.P No. 642 of 2026 HC-KAR
11. Heard the learned counsel for the respective parties, and perused the averments of the complaint as well as the charge sheet. It appears that, accused No.1 had made all efforts to bring the said items from Germany to India. However, he has mentioned the address of accused No.2 and directed that the said items to be reached to the said address. It is stated that the NCB officials, upon receiving the said information, without waiting for the said items to reach the address mentioned on the parcel, conducted the search and seized the items in the post office itself.
12. Be that as it may, on reading the averments of the complaint, I am of the considered opinion that, the present petitioner has made out a prima - facie case to grant bail. Hence, I proceed to pass the following.
ORDER
i) The petition is allowed.
ii) The petitioner is ordered to be enlarged on bail in NCB Crime No.48/1/20/2025/BZU registered -8- NC: 2026:KHC:13988 CRL.P No. 642 of 2026 HC-KAR by the respondent for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c), 22(c), 23(c), 27, 27A, 28 and 29 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 pending in Spl.C No.2434/2025 on the file of the learned XXXIII Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge and Special Judge for NDPS cases at Bengaluru on executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety to the satisfaction of the Trial Court.
iii) The petitioner shall not commit any similar or any other crimes till disposal of the case.
iv) The petitioner shall appear before the Trial Court on all hearing dates without fail. In case, the petitioner violates any of the bail conditions as stated above, liberty is reserved to the prosecution to file necessary application for cancellation of bail.
Sd/-
(S RACHAIAH) JUDGE BKM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 21