STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In a significant development in a high-profile narcotics case, Special Judge NDPS Court Jammu, Yash Pal Sharma, on Monday rejected the bail application of Gurjit Singh, an alleged drug smuggler accused of trafficking over 50 kg of heroin worth Rs 250 crore.
This is the second major bail rejection in the same case, following the court’s denial of bail in May to Ravinder Singh, who is alleged to be the kingpin behind the drug racket.
According to the prosecution, the case dates back to August 6, 2018, when a written complaint was submitted to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Jammu by the SHO of Police Station Bahu Fort. The complaint cited intelligence inputs regarding a narcotic consignment being transported in a truck (Registration No. JK02AD-3965) traveling from Kashmir to Jammu.
A joint team of NCB officials and Bahu Fort police laid a checkpoint at Rajiv Nagar Chowk, Narwal Bypass, Jammu. At around 1:00 PM, the truck was intercepted. The vehicle was being driven by Gurjit Singh with Ravi Kumar as the conductor.
A search was conducted in the presence of an Executive Magistrate, during which both individuals revealed that heroin was hidden in a false cavity in the cabin of the truck. The authorities recovered and seized 51 packets of heroin weighing 50.300 kilograms (excluding packing material). Gurjit Singh and Ravi Kumar were immediately arrested.
Subsequent investigation under Section 67 of the NDPS Act led to startling revelations. Gurjit Singh allegedly confessed that the consignment was being delivered under the instructions of Ravinder Singh, who was at the time lodged in Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal. Jail visitation records confirmed multiple meetings between Gurjit Singh and Ravinder Singh on 17th May, 25th May, 2nd June, 23rd June, and 12th July 2018.
Furthermore, Call Detail Records (CDRs) of mobile numbers used by the accused were analyzed, confirming their location in and around the jail premises, further strengthening the prosecution’s claims of coordination and conspiracy.
During the bail hearing, Advocate Anmol Sharma appeared for the petitioner, while Special Public Prosecutor Ajay Singh Manhas represented the NCB. The court, after hearing both sides, emphasized the gravity and societal impact of the offence, noting the seizure of an exceptionally large quantity of heroin from the conscious possession of the accused.
Quoting the Supreme Court’s guidelines, Judge Sharma underlined that for offences under the NDPS Act, particularly those involving commercial quantity, bail can only be granted if the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe the accused is not guilty and is unlikely to commit such offences while on bail-conditions that were clearly not met in this case.
“The offence is of a serious nature and directly affects society at large. The drug menace is rising at an alarming rate and is eating into the future of our youth like a termite,” the court observed. “Given the magnitude of the crime and the evidence presented, including jail visit records and call data analysis, the petitioner does not deserve the judicial discretion of bail.”
The court further held that the rigours of Section 37 of the NDPS Act applied squarely to the case, making the accused ineligible for bail in the absence of a prima facie finding of innocence.
Accordingly, the bail application was dismissed as devoid of merit.
