Allahabad High Court
GULAM SABERversusSTATE OF U.P.
- Decided
- Bench
- AVNISH SAXENA
Holding
The Court granted anticipatory bail to Gulam Saber, subject to a personal bond and specified conditions.
Summary
The High Court of Allahabad considered an anticipatory bail application filed by Gulam Saber under Section 482 CrPC in connection with a case under Sections 8, 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act. The applicant argued that he was falsely implicated based on statements of co‑accused who had been arrested with narcotics, and he had no prior criminal record and was willing to cooperate with the investigation. The State opposed the bail, contending the seriousness of the offences. Relying on Supreme Court precedents (Gurubaksh Singh Sibbia, Siddharam Mhetre and Sushila Aggarwal) the Court examined factors such as the gravity of accusation, flight risk, false implication, and the applicant's willingness to cooperate. Finding low flight risk and assurance of cooperation, the Court granted anticipatory bail with a personal bond and several conditions, while clarifying that the order does not prejudice the trial court’s merits.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the accused under Sections 8, 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act.
- Whether the applicant poses a flight risk or threat to the investigation.
- Whether the allegations against the applicant constitute false or exaggerated implication.
- Whether the applicant’s willingness to cooperate satisfies the criteria for anticipatory bail.
Legislation cited
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 — s. 351, 482
- Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act — s. 21, 29, 8
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- NDPS Act
- false implication
- flight risk
- bail conditions
- Criminal Procedure Code
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
CRIMINAL MISC. ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION U/S 482 BNSS No.
- 4272 of 2026
Gulam Saber
.....Applicant(s)
Versus
State of U.P.
.....Opposite
Party(s)
Counsel for Applicant(s) : Manvendra Singh, Pinki Saxena
Counsel for Opposite Party(s) : G.A.
Court No. - 71
HON'BLE AVNISH SAXENA, J.
1. Heard Sri Manvendra Singh, learned counsel for the accused-applicant,
learned AGA for State and perused the record.
2. The instant anticipatory bail application has been filed by applicant to
grant anticipatory bail in Case Crime No. 43 of 2026, under Sections
8/21/29 NDPS Act, P.S.- Fatehganj Pashchimi, District- Bareilly.
3. It is contended by learned counsel for accused-applicant that the police
has falsely implicated the accused in the F.I.R. dated 08.02.2026 when
they have arrested two co-accused person, namely, Dinesh Gupta and
Salman from whose possession smack of 47 gms and 23 gms respectively
have been recovered. Further submits that in the statement after the arrest
of the accused-applicant, they have disclosed the name of accused-
applicant that he is the supplier of the smack, as such, the name of
accused-applicant is also mentioned in the F.I.R. The applicant has no
criminal history. The investigation is continuing. The accused-applicant
wants to cooperate in the investigation, but apprehending arrest and
hence, seeks anticipatory bail.
4. Per contra learned A.G.A. has opposed the prayer for bail of the
applicant.
5. The scope of ambit of anticipatory bail is encapsulated in three
insightful judgments of Hon’ble Supreme Court right from Gurubaksh
Singh Sibbia Vs. State of Punjab reported in (1980) 2 SCC 565,
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Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre Vs. State of Maharashtra reported in
(2011) 1 SCC 694 and Sushila Aggarwal and others Vs. State (NCT of
Delhi) and another reported in (2020) 5 SCC 1, wherein it is
consistently held by Hon’ble Apex Court that while granting anticipatory
bail, the Court should considering the application of the applicant to
evaluate the threat or apprehension of arrest vis-a-vis the nature and
gravity of accusation, criminal antecedent of the accused, false or
exaggerated implication, need of custodial interrogation, willingness of
the accused to cooperate in investigation and trial and the conduct of the
accused and flight risk.
6. This Court while considering that the name of accused-applicant is
figured out from the statement of co-accused and further considering the
gravity of accusation and apprehension of arrest in the case vis-a-vis low
flight risk and assurance of the accused in cooperating with the
investigation and trial, is of considered view to grant anticipatory bail.
7. The applicant- Gulam Saber involved in the aforesaid case crime
shall appear before the trial court or the Investigating Officer, as the case
may be within 30 days from the date of this order and shall be released on
bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 25,000/- with two sureties each
in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned with
following conditions :-
(i) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement,
threat, or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as
to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the court or to any police
officer or tamper with the evidence.
(ii) The applicant shall not pressurize/intimidate the prosecution
witnesses.
(iii) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on
the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii)
recording of statement under Section 351 of BNSS.
(iv) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he/she shall
not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the
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witnesses are present in the trial court.
(v) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date
fixed, either personally or through his counsel.
8. In case of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for
cancellation of bail.
9. It is clarified that anything said in this order is limited to the purpose of
determination of this bail application and will in no way be construed as
an expression on the merits of the case. The trial court shall be absolutely
free to arrive at its independent conclusions on the basis of evidence led
unaffected by anything said in this order.
10. The below mentioned directions shall be complied with for
expeditious disposal of trial; in case charge sheet is submitted against
accused/applicant.
10.1 As the investigation is continuing, in the event charge sheet is
submitted and cognizance is taken, it would be the duty of the
accused/applicant to appear before the trial court or Magistrate concerned
as the case may be without waiting for the issuance of summons, within
60 days from the date of cognizance or on the date fixed, which ever is
earlier. So that the trial may not be delayed for non execution of summons
or processes.
10.2 The District Judge concerned shall direct each Magistrate and
Special courts to maintain a register of Anticipatory Bail orders granted
by this Court, wherein the details of Anticipatory Bail shall be entered.
The dedicated official shall be nominated in each Special court and
Magistrate court for maintaining the register.
10.3 The accused/applicant shall provide a copy of the final order of
anticipatory bail within 30 days, to the official concerned in whose
jurisdiction the case lies and shall provide his complete contact details
including the mobile number and E-mail ID (if maintained); any change
in detail shall be informed by the applicant.
10.4 On the submission of charge sheet and cognizance taken, the
Presiding Officer shall fetch the details of the accused/applicant and the
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dedicated official shall inform the accused at the given detail.
(Avnish Saxena,J.)
May 5, 2026
Shivangi
Digitally signed by :-
SHIVANGI YADAV
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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