Disposed

Dushyant @ Monu v. State (Govt of NCT of Delhi)

Delhi HC18 May 2026CRL.M.C./3930/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Petition under section 482 Cr.P.C. challenging rejection of a section 311 application seeking recall of PW-14, the Investigating Officer, for cross-examination, counsel having been unwell on the date fixed. The High Court granted the petitioner one solitary opportunity spread over two days to cross-examine PW-14 without costs and disposed of the petition.

What did the court decide?

One solitary opportunity over two days granted to cross-examine PW-14 without costs; pending applications disposed of.

Dushyant @ Monu Vs State (Govt of NCT of Delhi) — Narcotics (NDPS) | Delhi HC (2026)

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$~129

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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CRL.M.C. 3930/2026 DUSHYANT @ MONU .....Petitioner Through: Dr. Rakesh Gosain, Mr. Nitin S. Vashishth, Mr. Varun Rana, Mr. Anshul Lamba, Mr. Chirag Dagar, Mr. Pankaj Nagar, Mr. Mayank Sharma and Ms. S. Gosain, Advocates.

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versus

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STATE (GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI) .....Respondent Through: Ms. Shubhi Gupta, APP for the State. SI Sumit, P.S.: Bavana.

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CORAM:

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI

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% 18.05.2026

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CRL.M.A. 15937/2026 (exemption) CRL.M.A. 15938/2026 (exemption)

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Exemptions granted, subject to just exception.

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Let requisite compliances be made within 01 week.

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The applications stand disposed of.

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CRL.M.C. 3930/2026

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CRL.M.A. 15939/2026 (stay)

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By way of the present petition filed under section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (‘Cr.P.C.’), the petitioner impugns order dated 08.05.2026 passed by the learned Special Judge (NDPS)/ASJ, North District, Rohini Courts, Delhi whereby the learned ASJ has dismissed an application dated 07.05.2026 filed on behalf of the petitioner under section 311 of the Cr.P.C., by which

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CRL.M.C. 3930/2026 Page 1 of 4

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 20/05/2026 at 15:19:58

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application the petitioner had sought recall of PW-14/Retd. Inspector Anwar Khan, the Investigating Officer (‘I.O.’). in the matter, for cross-examination by learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner/accused.

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Dr. Rakesh Gosain, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits, that PW-14 was cross-examined on behalf of other coaccused persons on 24.04.2026 and was discharged thereafter. However, since on that date learned counsel appearing for the petitioner before the learned ASJ was unwell, counsel was not able to conduct the cross-examination of PW-14.

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It is submitted that the learned ASJ had orally suggested on 24.04.2026 that learned counsel for the petitioner could have an opportunity to cross-examine PW-14 in the next week, subject to costs of Rs. 25,000/-, which was declined by the learned counsel since he was seriously unwell and could not have cross-examined PW-14 even in the next week.

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In the circumstances, it is pointed-out that the petitioner moved an application dated 07.05.2026 under section 311 of the Cr.P.C. seeking recall of PW-14. This application has come to be rejected by the learned ASJ vidé impugned order dated 08.05.2026, since in effect, the learned trial court observed that an opportunity to cross-examine PW-14 had already been offered on oral suggestion, no further opportunity could be granted to learned counsel for the petitioner for that purpose, especially considering that the matter has been pending for the last 14 years.

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CRL.M.C. 3930/2026 Page 2 of 4 This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 20/05/2026 at 15:19:58

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Dr. Gosain submits, that a perusal of prescription dated 22.04.2026 appended to the present petition would show that counsel appearing for the petitioner before the learned ASJ was running high fever during that period and was later diagnosed with typhoid; and therefore, it was unjustified for the learned ASJ to have suggested that counsel should cross-examine PW-14 in the next week, and later declined him any further opportunity for that purpose.

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Issue notice.

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Ms. Shubhi Gupta, learned APP appears for the State on advance copy; accepts notice; and considering the prayer made, leaves it to the court to pass appropriate orders.

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In view of the submissions made, and the limited nature of the relief sought, the present petition is disposed-of granting to the petitioner 01 solitary opportunity , spread over 02 days to cross-examine PW-14 / Retd. Inspector Anwar Khan, without requirement of paying any costs.

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The court is informed that the next date of hearing before the learned trial court is 20.05.2026, on which date PW-14 can make himself available for cross-examination by learned counsel appearing for the petitioner before the learned ASJ. Accordingly, it is directed that learned counsel appearing for the petitioner shall cross-examine PW14 on 20.05.2026 and shall also be given one more date for that purpose, which date the learned ASJ shall designate.

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The petition stands disposed-of in the aforesaid terms.

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Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed-of.

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CRL.M.C. 3930/2026 Page 3 of 4 This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 20/05/2026 at 15:19:58

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The Registry is directed to communicate a copy of this order forthwith to the concerned Principal District & Sessions Judge, North District, Rohini Courts, Delhi for information and compliance.

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A copy of this order be given dasti under signatures of the court master.

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ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI, J

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MAY 18, 2026/ hb

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CRL.M.C. 3930/2026 Page 4 of 4

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This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 20/05/2026 at 15:19:58

Dushyant @ Monu v. State (Govt of NCT of Delhi)

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Dushyant @ Monu v. State (Govt of NCT of Delhi)

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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