Jehan Sharif vs The State
This matter arises from a bail petition filed by the accused Jehan Sharif seeking post-arrest release in case FIR No. 60 dated 2.8.2017 registered under Section 9(b) of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997 at Police Station RD ANF, Peshawar, following the alleged recovery of 930 grams of heroin concealed in his belly. The core legal question before the Peshawar High Court was whether the accused was entitled to the concession of bail for an offense involving the trafficking of a substantial quantity of narcotics abroad, notwithstanding that the offense may not fall within the prohibitory clause of Section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. The court held that the accused was prima facie connected with the commission of the offense, particularly given the nature of international narcotics trafficking bringing disrepute to the country and a positive FSL report, and consequently dismissed the bail petition. The key principle laid down is that where an accused is prima facie connected with heinous drug trafficking offenses carrying stringent penalties, bail may be denied even if the specific statutory punishment does not strictly fall within the prohibitory clause of Section 497 Cr.P.C.
- Is an accused entitled to post-arrest bail when charged under Section 9(b) of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act 1997 for smuggling heroin in his belly?
- Can bail be denied in narcotics cases even if the alleged offense does not fall within the prohibitory clause of Section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898?
- What is the legal effect of a positive FSL report and prima facie connection on a bail petition involving international drug trafficking?
- Section 9(b), Control of Narcotic Substances Act 1997
- Section 497, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
QAISER RASHID KHAN, J:- Accused/petitioner Jehan Sharif seeks his release on bail in case FIR No.60, dated 2.8.2017, under Section 9 (b) Control of Narcotics Substances Act, 1997 of Police Station RD ANF, Peshawar , with the allegations that 930 grams of heroin were recovered from his belly .
2. Arguments heard and the available record perused.
3. As per the FIR, it was on account of a spy information that a person by the name of accused/petitioner would be trafficking heroin in his belly to Sharjah through Shaheen Airlines, when a surveillance was conducted and on arrival of the accused/petitioner, he was stopped and on summary interrogation, he disclosed about the presence of narcotics in his belly whereafter he was taken to the Hayat Abad Medical Complex, Peshawar and from his stomach, 930 grams heroin concealed in 137 capsules were recovered.
4. In a situation where he was found carrying contraband heroin in his stomach and that too, to an Arab country which provides for the most stringent punishment to the offenders in such like cases and also carrying a Green Passport thereby bringing a bad name for his country and when the FSL report in respect of the narcotics is in the affirmative, then the accused-petitioner is prima facie connected with the commission of offence and hence not held entitled to the concession of bail even if the offence does not attract the prohibitory clause of Section 497 Cr.P.C. Accordingly, this bail petition stands dismissed.
5. However, keeping in view the request of the learned counsel for the petitioner, challan in the case be put in court within a fortnight and thereafter the learned trial court shall conclude the trial expeditiously. The record be sent forthwith.
6. Needless to mention that the observations recorded in this order are tentative in nature and shall not prejudice the proceedings before the learned trial court where the case be decided on its own merits after recording evidence.