Akhtar Bali @ Bali v. State Of Punjab

CRM-M-35621 of 2019 {1}

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-35621 of 2019 Date of decision:28.01.2020 Akhtar Bali @ Bali ... Petitioner Vs.

State of Punjab ... Respondent

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUVIR SEHGAL Present:- Mr. Sunny K. Singla, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Ramdeep Partap Singh, DAG, Punjab.

SUVIR SEHGAL, J. (Oral) The petitioner is seeking regular bail in FIR No.96 dated 30.10.2018 under Sections 22, 61 and 85 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 registered at Police Station City-I, Malerkotla, District Sangrur.

Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner was arrested on 30.10.2018 and was granted interim bail by the Special Judge, Sangrur on 05.12.2018 as FSL report has not been received. On receipt of FSL report on 03.01.2019, he was again taken into custody and is behind bars since then. He further submitted that the total recovery from the petitioner was 107 grams of Alprazolam which is marginally above the non-commercial quantity.

On instructions from ASI Harbhajan Singh, learned State counsel has submitted that challan was presented on 21.05.2019 and charges SAVITA KADIAN 2020.01.29 17:05 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document High Court Chandigarh

CRM-M-35621 of 2019 {2} were framed on 11.07.2019. Till date, out of total 17 prosecution witnesses, 02 witnesses have been examined.

Heard.

Since the petitioner is in custody for the last more than 13 months and the trial is likely to take sometime to conclude, no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner behind the bars any further.

Without commenting anything on the merits of the case, the petition is allowed and the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court/Duty Magistrate.

(SUVIR SEHGAL) JUDGE January 28, 2020 savita Whether Speaking/Reasoned Yes/No Whether Reportable Yes/No SAVITA KADIAN 2020.01.29 17:05 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document High Court Chandigarh