Natarajan @ Raja v. State Rep.By

Crl.O.P.No.7022 of 2024 Crl.O.P.No.7022 of 2024 M.DHANDAPANI, J.

The petitioner who was arrested by the respondent police on 11.12.2019 for the offences under Section 8(c) r/w Sections 20(b)(II), 22, 28, 29 and Section 9A r/w Section 25A of NDPS Act and punishable under Section 20(b)(ii)(B), 22(c), 28, 29 and Section 9A r/w Section 25A of NDPS Act and remanded to judicial custody on 12.12.2019 and upon filing of final report by the respondent police, the same was taken on file in C.C.No.66 of 2020 on the file of I Additional Special Court Exclusive Trial of NDPS Act cases, Chennai, seeks bail.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that, this Court, by its order dated 06.09.2022 in Crl.O.P.No.21227 of 2022 has directed the I Additional Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under NDPS Act, Chennai to conclude the trial in C.C.No.66 of 2020, within a period of nine months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order. However, till date, the trial has not been concluded. Hence, he prays to grant bail to the petitioner.

3. Mr.N.P.Kumar, learned Special Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent, on instructions, submitted that, out of five witnesses, three witnesses were examined and seeks time to conclude the trial in C.C.No.66 of 2020 within a period of six months. Page No.1 of 2 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

Crl.O.P.No.7022 of 2024 M.DHANDAPANI, J.

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4. Considering the fact that the seized contraband is a commercial quantity, which attracts Section 37 of NDPS Act, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner, however, since the trial has not been concluded, this Court directs the I Additional Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under NDPS Act, Chennai to conclude the trial in C.C.No.66 of 2020, within a period of six (6) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

5. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed. 10.04.2024 sp Crl.O.P.No.7022 of 2024 Page No.2 of 2 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis