CHAMKAUR SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner seeks grant of regular bail in a case registered in a case arising out of above mentioned FIR.

(2.) The FIR in question was lodged on the basis of secret information received by ASI Sharif Khan on 15/7/2020 to the effect that Chamkaur Singh, Manpreet Singh and Bhinder Singh had formed a gang and used to bring intoxicant tablets from outside and used to sell the same at Dhanaula and nearby villages to drug addicts. The information was further to the effect that even on the given day, they have been seen roaming on a black coloured motorcycle bearing Registration No.PB-19M-1866 while trying to sell intoxicating tablets. It is further the case of prosecution that pursuant to receipt of said information, the police started conducting search for the accused and when the police party reached near the bridge on main road leading from Barnala to Sangrur, then 3 persons with shorn hair were found sitting underneath the bridge on Sangrur side and who were seen counting something after taking out the same from a plastic envelope. Upon noticing the police, all three of them threw intoxicant strips held in their hands which were scattered but were visible. The police was able to apprehend all three of them and who upon enquiries disclosed their names as Chamkaur Singh, Manpreet Singh and Bhinder Singh. The intoxicant strips thrown on the ground were collected and were found to be 100 in number with each strip containing 10 tablets of Clovidol 100. Thus, a total of 1000 intoxicant tablets were recovered which were taken into possession. The personal search of the said persons did not yield anything incriminating. It is further the case of prosecution that during interrogation, they disclosed that the said tablets had been purchased by them from Sukhdev Singh, who was later arrested on 17/7/2020.

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner has falsely been implicated in the present case. It has further been submitted that the petitioner has been behind bars for a substantial period of more than 2 years and 9 months and that since the trial is proceeding at snail's pace and co-accused of petitioner namely Bhinder Singh and Manpreet Singh have already been granted bail, the petitioner deserves the concession of regular bail.