Raja Mallick v. The State Of West Bengal

12.04.2024 Sl. No.20 akd [ALLOWED] C. R. M. (NDPS) 646 of 2024 In Re: An application for bail under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure filed on 04.04.2024 in connection with Bhatpara Police Station Case No.261 of 2022 dated 02.04.2022 under Section 21(c) of the NDPS Act.

And In Re: Raja Mallick ... ... Petitioner Mr. Debasis Kar ... ... for the petitioner Mr. Sujan Chatterjee ... ... for the State

1. It is submitted on behalf of the petitioner that he is in custody for about two years and three months. It is further submitted there is inordinate delay in trial. Accordingly, he prays for bail.

2. Learned Advocate for the State opposes the prayer for bail.

3. We have considered the materials on record. Though narcotics i.e. 4.6 kgs. of codeine mixture was recovered from the petitioner, he is in custody for a considerable period of time. No witness has been examined till date. This demonstrates lackadaisical approach of the prosecution to conduct speedy trial. Under such circumstances, we are of the opinion petitioner has been able to make out a case of breach of his fundamental right to speedy trial and he is entitled to bail on this score. Bail prayer on the ground of inordinate delay in trial is not fettered by restrictions under Section 37 of the NDPS Act. Reference in this regard may be made to Rabi Prakash vs. The State of Odisha1.

4. Therefore, the accused/petitioner, namely Raja Mallick, be released on bail upon furnishing bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten thousand 1 2023 SCC OnLine SC 1109 Signed By : ARUP KUMAR DAS High Court of Calcutta 15 th of April 2024 03:41:19 PM

only), with two sureties of like amount each, one of whom must be local, to the satisfaction of the learned Judge, Special Court under the NDPS Act, Barrackpore, North 24-Parganas subject to condition that the said petitioner shall appear before the trial court on every date of hearing until further orders and shall not intimidate witnesses or tamper with evidence in any manner whatsoever or commit similar offences in future.

5. In the event he fails to appear before the trial court without any justifiable cause, the trial court shall be at liberty to cancel his bail automatically without reference to this court.

6. The application for bail, thus, stands allowed. (Gaurang Kanth, J.) (Joymalya Bagchi, J.) Signed By : ARUP KUMAR DAS High Court of Calcutta 15 th of April 2024 03:41:19 PM