John Rava v. State Of West Bengal

In the High Court at Calcutta Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri (Through Video Conference) 22.07.2022 cm/ct 28 C.R.M. (NDPS) No. 224 of 2022 sl. no. 3 In Re : An application for bail under section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in connection with NDPS case No. 32 of 2017 arising out of Alipurduar P.S Case No. 252 of 2017 dated 14.05.2017 under Sections 20 (B) (i) ( c ) of the N.D.P.S. Act.

Rejected And In Re : John Rava.

..... petitioner Mr. Matan Chakraborty ...... for the petitioner Mr. Kallol Acharjeee ...... for the State Petitioner is in custody for five years and six months. He renews his prayer for bail. He submits that there is no progress in the trial since 2019.

Learned lawyer for the State opposes the prayer for bail. We have considered the materials on record. There are ample materials connecting the petitioner with the crime. On the score of delay, we take note that trial could not proceed due to intervening pandemic conditions. Trial has considerably progressed. Hence, we are not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner at this stage. Accordingly, the prayer for bail of the petitioner is rejected. However, as the petitioner has suffered detention for a protracted period of time, we request the trial court to conclude the

trial as expeditiously as possible at preferably within six months from the next date fixed for recording evidence without granting unnecessary adjournment to either of the parties. ( Ananya Bandyopadhyay, J. ) ( Joymalya Bagchi, J.)