Reshma Shaik, v. The Union Of India,
THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.14048 of 2025 ORDER:
This Criminal Petition is filed seeking the Court to enlarge the petitioner, on bail, who is arrayed as accused in C.No.AirCus/49/Adjn/55/2025/AIU - D of Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad.
2.
The brief facts of the case are that on 10.10.2023 at 12:45 p.m., at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, the customs officers stationed at the green channel suspected the petitioner and one Ibrahim Thameem Ansari, who had not declared their baggage in the Athithi app. On scanning their baggage, suspicion arose of narcotic substance concealment. Both were taken to the Air Intelligence Unit room for examination. While Ibrahim Thameem's baggage contained no contraband, a purple trolley bag belonging to the petitioner was found to have a false bottom concealing two transparent vacuum-sealed packets containing green-colored substance emitting a pungent smell. On testing with a drug detection
kit, the substance was confirmed as Ganja weighing a total of 2.104 kg. The contraband and trolley bag were seized, and the petitioner was arrested.
3.
Heard Sri Chandrashekar Yadav S, learned counsel representing Sri Lakshmikanth Reddy Desai, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as Sri Dominic Fernandes, learned Senior Standing Counsel for CBIC appearing on behalf of the respondent-State.
4.
Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has not committed any offence as alleged in the complaint and that the seized contraband is of intermediate quantity i.e., 2.104 kgs of ganja. He further submitted that the petitioner has been in jail since 08.10.2025. Therefore, he prayed this Court to grant bail to the petitioner by allowing this criminal petition.
5.
On the other hand, the learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent submitted that the seized contraband originated from a foreign country and has a hydrophonic value of Rs.2 crores. He further submitted that
the investigation is still in progress and therefore, granting bail to the petitioner at this stage does not arise. Hence, he prayed that the Court dismiss the criminal petition. 6.
In the light of the submissions made by both the learned counsel and a perusal of the material available on record, since the seized contraband is of intermediate quantity, the petitioner have been languishing in jail since 11.10.2025, and the material part of the investigation has already been completed, this Court deems it fit to grant bail to the petitioner, subject to the following conditions: i.
The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) each, with two sureties for a like sum each to the satisfaction of the learned I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ranga Reddy District at L.B. Nagar.
ii.
The petitioner shall appear before the concerned SHO at 11:00 a.m., on every Monday for a period of eight (8) week or till filing of charge sheet whichever is
earlier, for the purpose of investigation, and thereafter, as and when required.
iii.
The petitioner shall abide by the conditions stipulated in Section 437(3) of Cr.P.C.(presently, Section 480(3) of the BNSS).
7.
Accordingly, the Criminal petition is allowed. Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.
_______________ K. SUJANA, J Date: 03.11.2025 SAI
THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.14048 of 2025 Date: 03.11.2025 SAI