Drug Menace Destroying Lives Of Citizens: Punjab & Haryana High Court Denies Alleged Drug Peddler's Pre-Arrest Bail Plea [Read Order]

The Single Bench of Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi observed,

"The lives of the citizens are being destroyed due to the selling of these banned substance. There is an alarming spike in the number of people buying and selling these contraband in the country, which needs to be controlled in an effective manner so as to minimise the said offence, if not to eradicate."

The Bench noted that India has one of the largest youth population which is a significant factor to power economic growth. However, it ventilated thus,

"but an overwhelming majority of addicts are amongst these youths, which has resulted in increase of crime and violence. The increasing number of drug addicts day by day has resulted into an upsetting situation."

The Court was hearing the anticipatory bail of a Rewari resident, Parmila, co-accused in a case for possession and sale of impermissible amount of cannabis.

As per the facts of the case, recovery of contraband was done from one Rahul, co-accused in the case, who stated that the said contraband was sold to him by the Petitioner. Accordingly, both of them were booked under Section 20 (b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

Denying all allegations, the Petitioner submitted that she had been wrongly implicated in the case, solely on the basis of a statement given by a drug peddler. She claimed to be innocent and submitted that no banned substance was ever sold by her to the co-accused.

Findings

Stating that the custodial interrogation of the Petitioner is necessary "for effective interrogation", especially for the violation of NDPS Act, the Court denied her request for pre-arrest bail.

The Bench emphasized,

"Once, the allegations have been alleged against the petitioner with regard to selling of the banned substance, which was recovered from the co-accused, the police has to unearth the total facts as to how the petitioner got the said substance in her possession and further whether, there were other people as well to whom the petitioner was selling the same or not."

It added,

"The role of operators, who are working from behind the scene, also needs to be brought out as they are the actual offenders and for that purpose custodial interrogation of the petitioner is must."

Case Title: Parmila v. State of Haryana

Click Here To Download Order

Read Order