Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 26: The Court of the 3rd Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu (Designated Court under Section 22 of the NIA Act), Madan Lal, has rejected the bail plea of Mohammad Yousuf @ Shamma of Narwal Bala, holding that his release at this stage could adversely affect the ongoing investigation into a case involving alleged commercial-scale narcotics trafficking, arms recoveries and UAPA offences.
The bail application (Bail/140/2026) related to FIR No. 249/2025 of Police Station Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, registered under Sections 8/21/22/27-A/29 NDPS Act, 13/15/17 UAPA, 111 BNS and 3/25 Arms Act. The applicant was represented by Advocate Sohail Shah, while the UT was represented through the Ld APP.
As per the case record, police claimed a patrol party intercepted two persons near Shastri Nagar Shamshan Ghat and allegedly recovered 1.630 kg heroin-like substance each from Karan Sharma and Niklesh Verma-a total of 3.260 kg-leading to arrests and further linkages.
Investigators subsequently arrested Mohammad Yousuf @ Shamma as a "forward linkage" accused and stated that 53.20 grams of heroin-like substance and a digital weighing machine were recovered at his instance. The defence argued that since only an intermediate quantity was attributed to him, the Section 37 NDPS bar should not apply, citing judgments including Avtar Singh Sangha v State of Punjab and a J&K High Court decision in Abdul Hamid v UT of J&K.
However, the court observed that the applicant is a co-accused in a case where the prosecution alleges recovery of large quantities of heroin and multiple pistols, and that he is part of an organised crime network with wider ramifications. Noting that the investigation is still underway, and that release at this stage may impact the probe, the court held the bail plea to be premature and without merit, and denied bail.
(JNF) |
