ABDUL KALAM Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard A. K. Talukdar, learned counsel appearing for the accused applicant and Mr. R.K.D. Choudhury, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India appearing for NCB.

(2.) This is an application under Sec. 483 of the BNSS, 2023 for granting bail to the accused applicant namely, Abdul Kalam, who was arrested on 14/7/2025, in connection with NCB Guwahati Zonal Unit, Crime No. 09/2025 under Sec. 8(c) read with Ss. 22(c)/29 of the NDPS Act, 1985.

(3.) The gist of the prosecution's case is that on 13/7/2025 at about 17:00 hours, Shri Pankaj Kumar Chouhan, Inspector, NCB, Guwahati, received a secret information that between 23:00 hours of 13/7/2025 and 02:00 hours of 14/7/2025, three persons, namely (1) Md. Murad, (2) Sayed Musa, and (3) Md. Yakub Ali, all residents of Sangaiyumpham under P.S. Thoubal, Manipur, would be trafficking approximately 10 kgs. of Methamphetamine tablets in a Mahindra XUV bearing registration No. AS 01 EX 5075 coming from Jagiroad side towards Guwahati. Pursuant thereto, on 14/7/2025, the NCB team intercepted the said vehicle at Nazirakhat Toll Plaza and apprehended the aforesaid three persons. It was alleged that, upon interrogation, the said persons admitted to trafficking Methamphetamine tablets concealed in specially fabricated cavities of the vehicle. However, unable to locate exact place of hiding the aforesaid contraband tablets in the vehicle, the vehicle was taken to a nearby workshop in the VIP Road, namely, Khushi Motor Works. Thereafter, at about 1:30 AM, the NCB team conducted a further search in the vehicle with the help of the mechanics and recovered 50 packets of Methamphetamine tablets weighing 10.858 kg from concealed cavities in the chassis of the vehicle. Consequently, NCB, GZU Crime No. 09/2025 was registered.