Prashant Manhar Vachhani v. Union Of India
D/L18 09.06.2026 C.R.M. (NDPS) 679 of 2026 Bpg.
Allowed In Re: An application for bail under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 filed in connection with F. No.S1(VII)- 44/2026(AIU) dated February 16, 2026 under Sections 20(b)(ii)(B)/ 23(B)/29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 giving rise to N. No.19 of 2026;
Prashant Manhar Vachhani
Versus
Union of India Mr. Navanil De Mr. Srinjan Ghosh.
...for the petitioner.
Mr. Uday Sankar Bhattacharya Mr. Tapan Bhanja.
...for the Union of India/Customs Authority.
Learned advocate appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has been implicated in connection with the instant case for alleged recovery of 10712 grams of contraband. Petitioner is in custody for 3 months 24 days and complaint has already been submitted before the jurisdictional court. Learned advocate appearing for the Air Customs Authority opposes the prayer for bail.
Having considered the verdict of the Hon'ble Apex Court in Barnali Bag Vs. Union of India (Special Leave Petition (Crl.) No.3641 of 2026) wherein emphasis was on intermediate quantity, I am inclined to release the petitioner on bail. Accordingly, the prayer for bail of the petitioner is allowed. The petitioner, namely, Prashant Manhar Vachhani shall
be released on bail upon furnishing bond of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) with two sureties of Rs.10,000/- each, both of whom must be local to the satisfaction of the learned special court under NDPS Act, Barasat, North 24 Parganas. If on bail, the petitioner shall be physically present on each and every date before the learned trial court and shall not leave the district of 24 Parganas (North) without the prior permission of the learned special court. The petitioner shall once in a fortnight meet with the investigating officer of the case or any other competent officer assigned by the Principal Commissioner, Air Cargo Complex till further orders of this Court. Needless to state that if there is any violation of the conditions, the learned special court would be at liberty to cancel the bail of the petitioner without further reference of this Court.
Accordingly, CRM(NDPS) 679 of 2026 is allowed. All parties shall act on the server copy of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this Court. Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance of all requisite formalities.
(Tirthankar Ghosh, J.)