CRM-M/26036/2026 of HARMANDEEP SINGH Vs STATE OF PUNJAB on 27 July 2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CRM-M No.26036 of 2026 Date of Decision:- 27.07.2026

Harmandeep Singh …..Petitioner. Versus State of Punjab .....Respondent.

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKRAM AGGARWAL ***** Present:- Mr. Amit Arora, Advocate

for the petitioner.

Mr. Jasjit Singh, DAG, Punjab.

VIKRAM AGGARWAL, J. (ORAL)

Prayer in the present petition preferred under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short the ‘BNSS’) is for the grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.0263 dated 04.11.2025 registered under Section 21(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short ‘the NDPS Act’) (offence under Section 29 of the NDPS Act added later on), at Police Station City Kotakpura, District Faridkot.

2. Custody certificate dated 26.07.2026 filed in Court today is taken on record.

3. As per the case of the prosecution, on 04.11.2025, Kamaldeep YAG DUTT

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Singh @ Titu and Vishal Sharma were apprehended and 400 grams of heroin is alleged to have been recovered from them. Upon their interrogation, they named the present petitioner, who surrendered on 17.03.2026 pursuant to the anticipatory bail application filed by the petitioner having been withdrawn from the Apex Court. However, no recovery has been made from him.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has been falsely implicated. He submits that the petitioner is in custody ever since his surrender on 17.03.2026; more than 04 months have elapsed; apart from the disclosure statement, there is no other evidence against the petitioner and no recovery has been made from him. Though the petitioner is involved in 04 other cases, out of which 03 under the NDPS Act, the said cases were registered on the basis of disclosure statements; final report stands submitted; charges stand framed on 07.04.2026; out of 21 prosecution witnesses, none has been examined; trial will still take a sufficiently long time and, therefore, no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner in custody any longer.

5. Per contra, learned State counsel has opposed the prayer for grant of bail stating that the antecedents of the petitioner are not clean.

6. I have considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties.

7. Concededly, the petitioner was named in the disclosure statement by main accused Kamaldeep Singh @ Titu and Vishal Sharma. He surrendered on 17.03.2026 and is in custody since then. No recovery YAG DUTT

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was made upon his surrender. There is no other evidence against the petitioner, at this stage, except for the disclosure statement suffered by the main accused. As to whether the petitioner is actually involved or not shall be determined when the trial concludes. Final report stands submitted. Charges stand framed on 07.04.2026. Out of 21 prosecution witnesses, none has been examined till date. 04 other cases are stated to be pending against the petitioner out of which 03 are under the NDPS Act. However, the petitioner is stated to have been nominated in the three cases under the NDPS Act on the basis of disclosure statements. Even otherwise, the said cases would not act to his detriment while the question of regular bail is being considered. Trial will still take a sufficiently long time and no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner in custody any longer.

8. In view of the aforementioned facts and circumstances, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail on his furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court/Chief Judicial Magistrate/Duty Magistrate.

9. However, nothing stated herein above shall be construed to be an opinion on the merits of the case.

(VIKRAM AGGARWAL) July 27, 2026

JUDGE Yag Dutt

Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No

Whether Reportable: Yes/No YAG DUTT