BLESSING AMAKA OKONKO vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

Judgment text excerpt

Prasad Rajput (P.A.) 901_BA_1627_2025 .doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO.1627 OF 2025 Blessing Amaka Okonko …Applicant Versus State of Maharashtra …Respondent Mr. Khushal Parmar, a/w Anjali More, for the Applicant. Ms. Manisha R. Tidke, APP for the Respondent-State. CORAM DR. NEELA GOKHALE, J. RESERVED ON: 01ST DECEMBER 2025 PRONOUNCED ON: 03RD DECEMBER 2025 JUDGMENT:- 1. By this Application, the Applicant seeks her enlargement on bail in connection with FIR No. 01 of 2023 dated 01st January 2023 registered with the ANC, Ghatkopar Unit, Mumbai, for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c), 22(b), 22(c) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 ( for short ‘NDPS Act’). 2. The facts of the case, in brief, are as under:- Page 1 of 13 rd 3 December 2025 Prasad Rajput (P.A.) 901_BA_1627_2025 .doc 2.1 On 31st December 2022, at around 1800 hours, the officials of the ANC, Ghatkopar Unit, Mumbai, received information of sale of narcotics in Mumbai City. Armed with this information, the officials formed a team and set off for patrolling. They carried with them all the necessary material required for compliances under the NDPS Act. During patrolling, they found 2 persons lurking in suspicious circumstances near the Lotus Prime Cloth Store, Navrang Compound, Mahim-Sion Link Road Bridge, Mumbai. The Police stopped their vehicle a little ahead of them, and kept a watch on the activities of those two persons. It appeared that the said two persons were waiting for someone. Finally, the Police officials started to go upto them to make inquiries. 2.2 On seeing the Police, the said two persons scrambled to disperse. The Police caught up with them and began making inquiries. The persons gave evasiv