Shaikh Faizan Farooq @ Prince v. The State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 1636 OF 2026 Shaikh Faizan Farooq @ Prince ...Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra

...Respondent

_________________________________________________________________ Mr. Akshay Bankapur, Advocate for Applicant.

Mr. B.B. Kulkarni, APP for Respondent-State.

_________________________________________________________________

CORAM

: SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.

DATE : 4th May, 2026.

P.C. :

1.

Heard learned counsel for the Applicant and learned APP for the State.

2.

By this application, the Applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No. 403 of 2025 registered with Mumbai Naka Police Station, Nashik for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c), 22(b) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short 'NDPS').

3.

It is prosecution's case that on secret information, police apprehended the Applicant and co-accused and in the personal search of the Accused No.1, police found 6.5 gram Mephedrone. 4.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that no

Mephedrone is found in possession of the applicant. It is alleged that applicant had given contraband to the co-accused and co-accused given contraband to other co-accused and thereafter it was given to Accused No.1. There is no recovery at the instance of the applicant. Applicant is behind bars around six months and requested to allow the application. 5.

It is contention of learned APP that applicant had provided the contraband to the co-accused. It was recovered from the possession of accused No.1. If he is released on bail, he may abscond or threaten prosecution witnesses and requested to reject the application. 6.

I have heard both learned counsel. Perused charge-sheet and documents produced on record. Allegations against the applicant are providing the contraband to accused No.1. To prove the allegations, trial is required. The co-accused Tajudding Mohammed Rijwan Rain, having similar allegations, has been released on bail by this Court. 7.

Considering these facts, I pass following order:

ORDER

(i) The Applicant- Shaikh Faizan Farooq @ Prince be released on bail in Crime No. 403 of 2025 registered with Mumbai Naka Police Station, Nashik, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

(ii) The Applicant shall attend the concerned police station, as and

when called.

(iii) The Applicant shall not tamper with the evidence and/or influence the prosecution witnesses.

(iv) The Trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits and in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the observations made in this order. (v) Bail Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. (SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)