Charanjit Singh v. State of Punjab

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 10691/2026
[Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 18-05-2026 in CRMM No. 520 of 2026 passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh]

CHARANJIT SINGH Petitioner(s)
VERSUS
STATE OF PUNJAB Respondent(s)

IA No. 171243/2026 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT IA No. 171188/2026 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.

Date : 09-10-2026 This matter was called on for hearing today.

CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SATISH CHANDRA SHARMA
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NONGMEIKAPAM KOTISWAR SINGH

For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Amol Chitravanshi- 3819, AOR For Respondent(s) : Mr. Karan Sharma- 3081, AOR Mr. Mohit Siwach, Adv.

[NyayVidhan note: the order numbers two consecutive paragraphs "8." and has no paragraph 9; the numbering is kept as issued. The footnote marker is shown as [1] and the footnote is given at the end.]

UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following

O R D E R

1. The petitioner before this Court has filed the present petition, being aggrieved by the impugned order dated 18.05.2026 passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in CRMM No. 520 of 2026, rejecting the prayer for anticipatory bail in connection with FIR No. 161 of 2025, registered at Police Station Sadar Kapurthala, District Kapurthala, for the offence punishable under Section 15 of the NDPS Act[1].

2. This Court, vide order dated 01.06.2026, granted interim protection to the petitioner in the matter.

3. The allegation against the petitioner is that he is the registered owner of the vehicle used for illegally transporting 120 kg of poppy husk.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner is not named in the FIR, no recovery was effected from his conscious possession, and he had handed over his vehicle to his friend, who might have used the same for transporting the contraband.

5. Learned counsel for the respondent-State has vehemently opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail.

6. It is undisputed that pursuant to the interim protection granted by this Court, the petitioner has joined the investigation.

7. This Court after hearing learned counsel for the parties and keeping in view the totality of circumstances, is of the opinion that the interim order dated 01.06.2026 deserves to be made absolute.

8. Accordingly, interim order dated 01.06.2026 is made absolute subject to the condition that petitioner shall continue to co-operate with the investigation and shall report as and when called upon to do so by the Investigating Authority.

8. The petitioner, if holding any passport, shall surrender the same before the Trial Court.

10. The Special Leave Petition is accordingly disposed of in the above terms.

11. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of.

(RAHUL KUMAR) COURT MASTER (SH)
(KOMAL) COURT MASTER (NSH)

Footnote: [1] Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985