Rahul Chandran v. Narcotics Control Bureau

$~73 *

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ BAIL APPLN. 456/2023 RAHUL CHANDRAN .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Aditya Aggarwal, Mr. Naveen Panwar and Ms.

Kajol Garg, Advocates.

versus NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU .....Respondent Through:

Mr. Arun Khatri, SSC with Ms.

Shelly Dixit and Mr. Pranjeet Singh, Advocates.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI

O R D E R

% 13.05.2026 By way of the present petition filed under section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 read with section 36-A(3) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 ('NDPS'), the petitioner seeks regular bail in case No. VIII/77/DZU/2021 registered under sections 8(c)/20(b)/21(b)/22(c)/23/25/29 of the NDPS Act by the NCB.

2.

Since status report dated 27.03.2023 appearing on the file is garbled, Mr. Arun Khatri, learned SSC has handed-up a hard copy. The same is taken on record.

3.

The court has heard Mr. Aditya Aggarwal, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in detail.

4.

The court has also heard Mr. Arun Khatri, learned Special Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent/NCB at length. BAIL APPLN. 456/2023 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 20/05/2026 at 15:06:18

5.

Upon conclusion of the hearing, the principal contention of Mr. Aggarwal that begs consideration is that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 08.12.2021; and has accordingly suffered about 41⁄2 years of judicial custody as an under-trial. In the meantime, 08 out of 22 prosecution witnesses have already been examined. 6.

In view of what has transpired in court, Mr. Aggarwal seeks liberty to withdraw the present bail petition; with liberty to file afresh for the same relief, depending upon the pace at which trial in the matter proceeds.

7.

Mr. Khatri submits, that the prosecution will not give any cause for concern to the learned Special Judge as regards expeditious progress of the trial.

8.

The present bail petition is accordingly disposed-of as withdrawn; granting liberty to the petitioner to file afresh in the circumstances referred to above.

9.

Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed-of. ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI, J MAY 13, 2026 V.Rawat BAIL APPLN. 456/2023 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 20/05/2026 at 15:06:18