Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 7: The Court of Special Judge (NDPS Cases), Jammu, Parvaiz Iqbal, has rejected bail applications filed by two accused in separate narcotics cases, observing that the statutory restrictions under Section 37 of the NDPS Act could not be overlooked where the cases involve commercial quantity and prima facie material linking the accused with the alleged drug trade.
In the first case, the Court dismissed the bail plea of Salman Khan of Khare Larey, Udhampur, booked in FIR No. 172/2022 of Police Station Gandhi Nagar under Sections 8/21/22/27A/29 of the NDPS Act and Section 111 BNS.
According to the prosecution case recorded in the order, a commercial quantity of heroin-like substance was allegedly recovered from co-accused Mandeep Singh, while the investigation sought to connect Salman Khan with the alleged supply and financing chain through disclosure material and banking transactions. The Court noted that investigation into the source, destination and intended distribution of the contraband was still in progress and held that the material, at this stage, did not enable the accused to overcome the bar contained in Section 37 of the NDPS Act.
Rejecting the plea, the Special Court observed that a court dealing with a commercial-quantity NDPS case cannot ignore the statutory conditions governing bail and concluded that Salman Khan was not entitled to bail at the present stage of investigation.
In a separate matter, the same Court also rejected the regular bail application of Reena of Rajeev Nagar, Narwal, accused in FIR No. 295/2025 of Police Station Bahu Fort under various provisions of the NDPS Act. The prosecution case arose after police allegedly recovered 275 grams of heroin-like substance from co-accused Vishal Kumar, followed by a further alleged recovery of 55 grams, cash and a digital weighing machine during investigation.
The Court noted that the prosecution had placed on record recoveries, statements, bank-account details and other material which, at the bail stage, raised a prima facie case regarding her alleged role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. It also took note of previous cases cited against her while examining whether she could satisfy the twin conditions prescribed under Section 37 of the NDPS Act.
Holding that the statutory requirements for grant of bail had not been met, the Court dismissed Reena's application, observing that at this stage it was not possible to record satisfaction that she would not re-indulge in similar offences if released on bail.
(JNF) |
