AKASHDEEP SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is the first petition filed under Sec. 483 BNSS seeking regular bail to the petitioner, in case bearing FIR No.106 dtd. 28/7/2023 under Ss. 21 and 29 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short 'NDPS Act') and Sec. 25(6) of Arms Act, 1959 registered at Police Station City Nawanshahar, District SBS Nagar (Annexure P-1).

(2.) Tersely put, present case has been registered on the basis of secret information that Sandeep Kumar @ Ravi Balachauria son of Gurmail Singh, who is gangster and many cases of murder, extortion, NDPS Act and Arms Act are registered against him, at present, he is in jail but still he is getting Arms and Heroin supplied through Akashdeep @ Billa and Akashdeep Singh son of Sukhjinder Singh (petitioner herein). It is further informed that even both these persons namely Akashdeep @ Billa and Akashdeep Singh son of Sukhjinder Singh are coming on black colour scooter bearing No.PB-24-B-3951 from Garhshankar to Nawanshahr side, for supplying the Heroin and Arms. If naka be laid at the disclosed place, then they could be apprehended along with Heroin and illegal weapons. On the basis of said information, present FIR was registered under Ss. 21 and 29 of NDPS Act and 25(6) of Arms Act. Naka was laid and during checking, both accused namely Akashdeep @ Billa and Akashdeep Singh son of Sukhjinder Singh (petitioner herein) were apprehended and on conducting their search, 01 kilogram 200 grams of Heroin along with pistols, magzines and Rs.1,35,000.00 drug money got recovered from them.

(3.) Learned counsel inter alia contends that similarly situated co-accused namely Akashdeep has been granted the concession of regular bail by this Court vide order dtd. 17/2/2025 passed in CRM-M-7711-2025 (Annexure P-2). He further contends that in spite of the fact that FIR (supra) was registered on 28/7/2023, out of total 25 witnesses cited by the prosecution, only 01 witness has been examined so far. The petitioner has undergone a custody period of 01 year 07 months and 03 days and is not involved in any other case.