MASARAN KOUROUMA vs CUSTOMS

Judgment text excerpt

$~1 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision: 23rd April, 2026 + BAIL APPLN. 3861/2024 MASARAN KOUROUMA .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Javed Khan, Advocate. versus CUSTOMS .....Respondent Through: Mr. Gibran Naushad, SSC with Mr. Suraj Shekhar Singh, Advocates. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ JAIN J U D G M E N T (oral) 1. Applicant seeks regular bail in Complaint Case No.VIII(AP)(10) P&I/4053-B/Arrival/2023 for commission of offences under Sections 8, 21, 23 and 28 of Narcotic Drugs And Psychotropic Substances (NDPS), Act, 1985, registered at P.S. Customs, IGI Airport, Delhi. 2. The applicant was arrested by the official of Customs at IGI Airport on 26.03.2023 and from her conscious possession, 996 grams of cocaine was recovered. 3. The trial is underway and in order to assess the exact status of the ongoing trial and the period within which the abovesaid trial could be concluded, a request was sent to the concerned Trial Court to send a report. In terms of said directions contained in order dated 16.03.2026, a report has now been received from the learned Special Judge and as per the report, the matter is at the stage of prosecution evidence and five out of twelve witnesses have already been examined and one witness has been dropped, in terms of Signature Not Verified Signed By:SONIA BAIL APPLN. 3861/2024 1 THAPLIYAL Signing Date:25.04.2026 11:45:25 Section 294 Cr.P.C. and the case is now fixed for 15.05.2026 for further PE. 4. It has also been mentioned that every endeavour would be made to conclude the trial in six months. 5. Admittedly, the period of incarceration of the applicant is more than three years but in view of the abovesaid report received from the learned Trial Court, this Court does not find any compelling reason to release the applic