NARCOTIC CONTROL BUREAU Vs. LAKHWINDER SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted.

(2.) Heard Shri S.V. Raju, learned ASG appearing for the appellant.

(3.) By the impugned order, the High Court has granted relief of suspension of sentence and bail to the respondent/accused pending an appeal against the conviction. The respondent was convicted for an offence punishable under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short, "the NDPS Act"). The substantive sentence of the respondent is 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. In the appeal of the year 2021, the High Court noted that the respondent had undergone incarceration for a period of 4 1/2 years out of the fixed term sentence of 10 years. As the appeal was not likely to be heard before the completion of the sentence, the High Court granted relief of suspension of sentence and bail to the respondent.