RAJ KUMAR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners seek grant of regular bail in a case registered against them vide FIR No.60 dated 15.3.2019 under Sections 18 and 29 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and Sections 465/471/120-B of IPC at Police Station City Muktsar, District Sri Muktsar Sahib.

(2.) It is the case of prosecution that on 15.3.2019 when a police party headed by ASI Sukhdev Singh was patrolling in the area of Police Station City Muktsar in connection with parliamentary elections for the purpose of checking antisocial elements and when they were passing through Street No. 6, Sri Muktsar Sahib, then a Swift car bearing registration number HR-26-BE- 8445 was seen in the street and the driver of the said vehicle upon noticing the police vehicle stopped his car and tried to escape. However, he was apprehended by the police and upon enquiry, he disclosed his name as Rinku. The other person sitting in the vehicle in front passenger seat disclosed his name as Raj Kumar and a young man sitting on the rear seat disclosed his name as Shanty. Upon search of the vehicle, a white coloured plastic sack was found lying near the feet of Raj Kumar, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of the vehicle and upon checking the same, it was found to contain 30 kilograms of 'opium'. It is further the case of prosecution that an amount of Rs. 17,85,000/- was recovered from the house of petitioner No.1-Raj Kumar.

(3.) The learned counsel for the petitioners has submitted that the petitioners have been falsely implicated during the period of parliamentary elections on account of political rivalry and that it is highly unlikely that a person would be carrying 30 kilograms of 'opium' in his car.