SHATAN BISHNOI @ SANTOSH vs STATE GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI

Judgment text excerpt

$~80 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision: 09.03.2026 + BAIL APPLN. 1734/2025 SHATAN BISHNOI @ SANTOSH .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Vikalp Sharma, Advocate versus STATE GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Mr. Amit Ahlawat, APP for the State with Inspector Sanjeev Kumar CORAM: JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA J U D G M E N T (ORAL) 1. The applicant/accused seeks regular bail in case FIR No. 154/2023 of Police Station Special Cell for offence under Section 18 & 24 of the NDPS Act. This bail application was taken up for the first hearing on 06.05.2025 before the predecessor bench, and thereafter remained pending before different benches. Today is the first hearing before me. 2. Broadly speaking, the prosecution case is that on the basis of secret information, a raid was carried out in which, from a truck being driven by accused Mohan Lal, 41.260 kg opium being transported from Manipur to BAIL APPLN. 1734/2025 Page 1 of 4 pages Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, Signature Not Verified GIRISH 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4af ec45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacc a, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - KATHPALIA 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d 15570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965f Digitally Signed f801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.03.09 19:01:10 -07'00' By:NEETU N NAIR Signing Date:09.03.2026 18:05:51 Delhi, was recovered. The role ascribed to the accused/applicant is that it is he, who booked the transported opium from Manipur and thereafter, he flew down to Delhi. 3. Learned counsel for accused/applicant contends that he is in jail since 19.06.2023 despite there being no admissible evidence against him. It is contended that the accused/applicant is in jail solely on basis