Bombay High Court
RAMESH NARSIMHA AITHAversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
- Decided
- Disposal
- Allowed
Holding
Bail is granted as the prosecution failed to establish a reasonable nexus and the applicant has been detained for 2½ years without trial.
Summary
Ramesh Narsihn Aitha, accused in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case (CR No. 425 of 2023), had been in custody for two and a half years without trial or charge framing. The prosecution alleged that he supplied a formula for manufacturing contraband but failed to show a specific role, money trail, or any reasonable nexus to the offence. The Court noted the unreasonable delay, the lack of concrete evidence, and the prejudice to the applicant's liberty. Consequently, the Court granted bail on a personal bond of Rs. 50,000 with sureties and imposed standard conditions, including monthly reporting to the investigating officer and non‑interference with witnesses. The bail application was allowed and disposed, with the Court expressly limiting its observations to bail and reserving judgment on the merits for the trial court.
Issues considered
- Whether the applicant is entitled to bail despite a 2½‑year pre‑trial detention without charge framing.
- Whether the prosecution has established a sufficient nexus between the applicant and the alleged NDPS offences.
- Whether the delay and lack of specific evidence justify the grant of bail.
Legislation cited
- Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — s. 22(c), 25, 27A, 29, 8(c)
Subjects
- bail
- NDPS Act
- pre‑trial detention
- reasonable nexus
- delay in trial
- personal bond
Judgment
Digitally
signed by
MEERA
MEERA MAHESH 46-ba-198-26.doc
MAHESH JADHAV
JADHAV Date:
2026.09.23
15:16:33
+0530
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
BAIL APPLICATION NO.198 OF 2026
Ramesh Narsihn Aitha .. Applicant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra .. Respondent
....................
Ms Ashwini Achari a/w Mr. Taraq Sayed and Mr. Aryan Kotwal
Advocates for Applicant.
Ms Shilpa Talhar APP for State.
................…
CORAM : MILIND N. JADHAV, J.
DATE : SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
P.C.:
1. At the outset, Ms Achari, learned Advocate for the Applicant seeks
leave to correct the name of father of the Applicant as “Narsihn”.
Amendment to that effect is permitted to carried out in the
Application. Amendment be carried out within one week from today.
Reverification is dispensed with.
2. Heard Ms Achari, learned Advocate for Applicant and Ms Talhar,
learned APP for Respondent-State.
3. By this Bail Application, Applicant is seeking enlargement on bail
in C.R. No. 425 of 2023 registered with Nashik Road Police Station for
the offences punishable under Sections 8 (c) r/w. 22 (c), 25, 27A and
29 of the NDPS Act, 1985.
4. The Applicant is arraigned as Accused No.21 in the present crime.
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The Applicant was already in custody at the time of commission of the
crime and his statement was recorded qua his earlier crime in question,
which has been used by the prosecution to indict him in the present
crime. No specific role has been attributed to the Applicant neither any
money trail has been shown, which reaches the door step of the
Applicant before me. What is stated by the prosecution is that he had
provided the formula for manufacture of the alleged contraband in
question. To that extent there has to be a reasonable nexus which has
to be shown by the prosecution. It is not so shown to me from the
material collected. The Applicant is behind bars for 2 and ½ years
without the trial commencing. Charge is also not framed. The
ignominy of the Applicant in incarceration without trial is considered
by the Court for granting bail to the Applicant in the present matter.
5. In view of the above the following order is passed:-
(i) Applicant – Ramesh Narsihn Aitha is directed to be
immediately released from prison in connection with Crime
No. 425 of 2023;
(ii) Applicant is directed to be released on bail on
furnishing P.R. Bond of Rs. 50,000/- (Rupees Fifteen
Thousand only) with one or two sureties in the like amount;
(iii) Applicant shall report to the Investigating Officer at
Nashik Road Police Station, once every month on the first
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Sunday of the month between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.;
(iv) Applicant shall co-operate with the conduct of trial and
attend the Trial Court on all dates, unless specifically
exempted and will not take any unnecessary adjournments,
if he does so it will entitle the prosecution to apply for
revocation of this order;
(v) Applicant shall not leave the State of Maharashtra
without prior permission of the Trial Court;
(vi) Applicant shall not influence with any of the witnesses
or tamper with the evidence in any manner;
(vii) Applicant shall keep the Investigating Officer informed
of his current address and mobile contact number and / or
change of residence or mobile details, if any, from time to
time, as applicable; and
(viii)Any infraction of the conditions shall entail cancellation
of bail granted to the Applicant.
6. It is clarified that the observations made in this order are limited
for the purpose of granting bail only and I have not made any
observations on merits of the case. The trial shall be adjudicated on
the strength of the evidence led and strictly on its own merits being
uninfluenced with any of the prima facie observations made
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hereinabove in this order.
7. Bail Application is allowed and disposed of in the above
terms.
[ MILIND N. JADHAV, J. ]
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