Bhagwant Singh Alias Paggu v. State Of Punjab

CRM-M-6220-2025 - 1 -

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-6220-2025 Decided on : 07.02.2025 Bhagwant Singh @ Paggu . . . Petitioner(s)

Versus

State of Punjab . . . Respondent(s)

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH PRESENT: Mr. Ravinder Rana, Advocate for the petitioner(s).

Mr. Amandeep S. Samra, AAG, Punjab.

**** SANJAY VASHISTH , J. (Oral) 1.

The instant petition has been filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, for grant of regular bail to the petitioner - Bhagwant Singh @ Paggu, who has been booked for having committed the offence punishable under Section 22(b) of the NDPS Act, 1985 and Section 42 of the Prisons Act, in FIR No. 303, dated 17.08.2021, registered at Police Station Islamabad, District Amritsar (Annexure P-1), during the pendency of trial. 2.

While the petitioner was in jail, 370 loose intoxicant tablets were recovered from the possession of the accused - petitioner, when he was lodged in Central Jail, Amritsar in another criminal case, as a consequence of raid conducted by the jail team. The contents of the salt in the recovered loose intoxicant tablets from the accused - petitioner was found to be 'Buprenorphine Hydrochloride' and the average weight of one tablet is stated to be 151 mg., and when counted as per prescribed formula, the total quantity of the salt comes to 55.87 gram. Regarding the salt involved, as per JAWALA RAM 2025.02.11 20:23 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

CRM-M-6220-2025 - 2 - the NDPS Act, more than 20 grams, would be counted as 'commercial quantity'.

3.

Counsel for the petitioner submits that since 17.08.2021, the petitioner in jail, and the prosecution is unable to present its entire evidence. Given that he has been incarcerated for over three years and four months, he is entitled to be released on regular bail.

4.

On the other hand, the learned State counsel opposes the present regular bail petition and informs the Court that only three prosecution witnesses remain to be examined. It is further submitted that his release may create a risk of him absconding from the process of law. 5.

Taking into account the circumstances in their entirety, and special note of the stage of the trial, which is about to conclude, present petition is dismissed at this stage.

However, if the trial is not decided within the next six months, the petitioner would be at liberty to file a fresh petition on the same cause of action.

(SANJAY VASHISTH) JUDGE February 07, 2025 J.Ram Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes/No Whether Reportable:

Yes/No JAWALA RAM 2025.02.11 20:23 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document