CHAMAN LAL Vs. STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Both these petitions are being decided by a common order as common questions of facts are involved and both arise out of the same FIR.

(2.) Petitioners in both the petitions are accused in case FIR No. 58 of 2022, dtd. 29/8/2022, registered at Police Station Darlaghat, District Solan, H.P. under Ss. 18 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (for short 'NDPS') Act.

(3.) The case of police is that on 29/8/2022 at about 7.30 P.M. during patrol duty a vehicle No. HP-52A-8150 (Wagon-R) was noticed approaching from Bilaspur side. The vehicle was abruptly stopped and was tried to be reversed in haste, but it was apprehended by the police officials after entertaining a suspicion. Dharam Chand petitioner in Cr.MP(M) No. 2013 of 2022 was on driver's seat and Chaman Lal petitioner in Cr.MP(M) No. 2012 of 2022 was occupying the rear seat of the vehicle. Another person named Khub Ram was occupying the front passenger seat. Khub Ram was holding a backpack in his lap. On checking of the backpack, opium weighing 161 grams and currency notes worth Rs.1,44,100.00 were recovered. The case was registered and all the occupants of the vehicle including petitioners were arrested. Petitioners presently are in judicial custody in above noted case.