CRL.P/13782/2026 of ABDUL HAKEEM Vs STATE OF KARNATAKA on 6 October 2026

ORAL ORDER

Accused Nos.1 to 3 in Crime No.160/2026 registered by Sakaleshpura Rural Police Station, Hassan District for the offence punishable under Section 22(b) of NDPS Act,

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1985, are before this Court in this petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, seeking regular bail.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

3. FIR in Crime No.160/2026 was registered by Sakaleshpura Rural Police Station, Hassan for the aforesaid offence against the petitioners herein, based on the first information dated 11.08.2026 received from Sri Raju, Police Officer attached to Sakaleshpura Rural Police Station, Hassan. In the said case, the petitioners, who were arrested on 11.08.2026, were subsequently remanded to judicial custody. Their bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crime No.166/2026 was rejected on 25.08.2026. Therefore, they are before this Court.

4. A reading of the first information submitted by Sri Raju, Police Officer attached to Sakaleshpura Rural Police Station, Hassan, would go to show that, on 11.08.2026 at about 04:00 p.m., when he was on duty, he

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had received credible information to the effect that accused Nos.1 to 3 named in the FIR were in possession of contraband article allegedly MDMA and therefore, FIR was registered against them for the aforesaid offence. In the raid that was subsequently conducted, the petitioners were apprehended and from their possession, the contraband article allegedly MDMA totally weighing 2.42 grams was recovered and seized under a Panchanama.

5. Under the relevant notification issued under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985, 2.42 grams of MDMA is considered as intermediate quantity. Accused Nos.1 and 2 are students and accused No.3 is said to be a driver by profession. Accused Nos.1 to 3 are all youngsters aged about 20 to 22 years. Undisputedly, they do not have any criminal antecedents. Major portion of the investigation is already completed. Since the seized contraband article is of intermediate quantity, the rigour under Section 37(1)(b) of the NDPS Act would not be applicable to the case on hand.

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6. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioners for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively, subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following:

O R D E R

i) The Criminal Petition is allowed.

ii) The petitioners are directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.160/2026 registered by Sakaleshpura Rural Police Station, Hassan for the offence punishable under Section 22(b) of NDPS Act, 1985, subject to the following conditions:

a) The petitioners shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each with two sureties for the likesum, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court; b) The petitioners shall appear regularly on all the dates of hearing before the Trial Court unless the Trial Court exempts their appearance for valid reasons;

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c) The petitioners shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses;

d) The petitioners shall not involve in similar offences in future;

e) The petitioners shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Trial Court without permission of the said Court until the case registered against them is disposed off.

Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE SHS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 67