Role Confined to Supplying Scientific Apparatus: Rajasthan High Court Grants NDPS Bail, Finds Section 37 Met

The petitioner, arrested in a 2025 case of Police Station CBN, Kota, under Sections 8/22(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act, sought bail under Section 483 of the BNSS (para 2). His counsel said 2.021 kg of MD was recovered from one co-accused, who named a second co-accused as the source; apparatus and chemicals were recovered from the second man's premises (para 3), and the petitioner was implicated on his disclosure that they were bought from the petitioner (para 4). He has been in custody since 24.11.2025 (para 5). The Public Prosecutor opposed bail but could not dispute that the petitioner's alleged role was limited to procuring and supplying the apparatus and that nothing was recovered from him (para 7).

The Court noted that the 2.021 kg of MD was recovered from a co-accused who said it belonged to a second co-accused, and that the petitioner was implicated on the allegation that the second co-accused had bought certain apparatus from him (para 8). The petitioner is stated to run a business supplying scientific apparatus; his firm's registration documents form part of the charge-sheet, and the firm's inspection report indicates that he was carrying on business and that scientific apparatus was found at the premises (para 9). Prima facie, his alleged involvement was confined to supplying scientific apparatus in the course of his business, and his bona fides could not be ruled out at this stage (para 10). Nothing was recovered from him, and there was no allegation that he was directly involved in trafficking the contraband (para 10). He had already been granted bail in the connected matter, the investigation was complete, the charge-sheet was filed, and he had been in custody since 24.11.2025 (para 10). With the trial likely to take time and no apprehension of flight shown, the Court granted bail and, for the limited purpose of the application, held the Section 37 twin conditions satisfied (para 11).