Navneet Singh Alias Shera v. State Of Punjab

CRM-M-70385-2025 (O&M) 1

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-70385-2025 (O&M) Date of decision: 12.02.2026 Navneet Singh alias Shera ....Petitioner

Versus

State of Punjab

...Respondent

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY ***** Present :

Mr. Varinder Basa, Advocate for the petitioner 



 
 
 ***** AMAN CHAUDHARY, J. (ORAL) 1.

Prayer in the present petition filed under Section 483 BNSS is for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.193 dated 15.07.2018, registered under Sections 20/29/61/85 of NDPS Act at Police Station ADivision, District Amritsar, Punjab. 2.

Learned counsel contends that the petitioner had initially been granted regular bail in the present case on 18.07.2018, Annexure P-2, whereafter he continued to appear before the trial Court regularly but on account of having been involved in another FIR, he could not appear before the trial Court and declared proclaimed offender vide order dated 18.01.2024 and re-arrested on 08.09.2025, since then he is in custody. No recovery has been effected from him, while from the co-accused Rohit Gill, who had named him, non-commercial quantity of contraband has been effected, it being 600 grams of charas. Charges have been framed on 02.08.2019, however, out of 17 prosecution witnesses, none has been examined. The petitioner is involved in 1 more case under NDPS Act and 4 under IPC, wherein he is on bail. Reliance is

CRM-M-70385-2025 (O&M) 2 placed on the judgment passed by Hon'ble The Supreme Court titled as Maulana Mohd. Amir Rashadi vs. State of U.P. and others, 2012(2) SCC 382.

3.

The custody certificate dated 11.02.2026, filed by the learned State counsel is taken on record. As per the same, the petitioner is behind bars for 8 months and 28 days.

4.

Learned State counsel opposes the bail on the ground that the petitioner was specifically named by his co-accused from whom noncommercial quantity of contraband was effected and had willfully absented from the proceedings. However, he is unable to controvert the submissions with regard to stage and the petitioner being on bail in other cases. 5.

Heard.

6.

Hon'ble The Supreme Court in the case of Maulana Mohd. Amir Rashadi (supra) had held that, "As observed by the High Court, merely on the basis of criminal antecedents, the claim of the second respondent cannot be rejected. In other words, it is the duty of the Court to find out the role of the accused in the case in which he has been charged and other circumstances such as possibility of fleeing away from the jurisdiction of the Court, etc." Reiterating in Prabhakar Tewari vs. State of UP and another, (2020) 11 SCC 648, it was observed that, "The offence alleged no doubt is grave and serious and there are several criminal cases pending against the accused. These factors by themselves cannot be the basis for refusal of prayer for bail." 7.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, in particular that the petitioner is in custody for the last 8 months and 28 days; on bail in other cases; charges were framed on 02.08.2019, however, out of 17 prosecution

CRM-M-70385-2025 (O&M) 3 witnesses, none has yet been examined, the trial is likely to take a considerable time, further incarceration of the petitioner would be violative of his right enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, the present petition is allowed.

8.

The petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail, subject to furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of trial Court/Duty Magistrate concerned, if not required in any other case and shall abide by the following conditions:- (i) The petitioner will not tamper with the evidence during the trial.

(ii) The petitioner will not pressurize/ intimidate the prosecution witnesses.

(iii) The petitioner will appear before the trial Court on each and every date fixed, unless is exempted by a specific order of Court.

(iv) The petitioner shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which, he is an accused, or for commission of which he is suspected of.

(v) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly coerce, induce, threaten or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/ her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence in any manner.

(vi) The petitioner shall not in any manner misuse his liberty.

(vii) The petitioner shall furnish his address and mobile number by way of an affidavit to the trial Court and not change the same till conclusion of trial and if for any reasons, he seeks to change either of the aforesaid, it shall be done only with prior information to the learned trial Court.

(viii) The petitioner shall not leave the country without prior permission of the trial Court.

(ix) The trial Court/Duty Magistrate may impose any other condition, as deemed appropriate while releasing the petitioner.

9.

It is made abundantly clear that in case there is any breach of the

CRM-M-70385-2025 (O&M) 4 aforesaid conditions, the State shall be at liberty to seek cancellation of bail as granted to the petitioner by this order.

10.

In view of the above, it is clarified that the observations made herein above are limited for the purpose of present proceedings and would not be construed as any opinion on the merits of the case and the trial would proceed independently of the aforesaid observations. (AMAN CHAUDHARY) JUDGE 12.02.2026 M.Kamra Whether speaking/reasoned :

Yes / No Whether reportable :

Yes / No