Mr Armel Vs State of Karnataka — Narcotics (NDPS) | Karnataka HC (2026)

Mr Armel Vs State of Karnataka — Narcotics (NDPS) | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Petition dismissed as not pressed with liberty to renew the bail application before the Trial Court if the trial is not completed within eight months; Trial Court directed to expedite the trial and dispose of the case within that period.

Issue for consideration

Whether Accused No.1/petitioner, in judicial custody since 09.01.2024 in Crime No. 06/2024 of Chikkajala Police Station (offences under Ss.8(c), 22(c) NDPS Act 1985, Foreigners Order Act 1948, S.7(2) Foreigners Act 1946 and S.14), should be enlarged on regular bail under S.439 Cr.P.C./S.483 BNSS.

Court's answer

The criminal petition seeking regular bail is dismissed as not pressed, with liberty as prayed for.

Ratio / Principle

Considering the period of the petitioner's incarceration, the Trial Court is directed to expedite the trial and dispose of the case on merits as expeditiously as possible, but not later than a period of eight months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

Key takeaways

If the trial is not completed within the stipulated eight-month period, the petitioner is at liberty to renew his bail application before the Trial Court.ratio¶38

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Petition No. 8014 of 2026 filed under S.439 Cr.P.C. (also noted as filed under S.483 BNSS) by Accused No.1 in Crime No. 06/2024 dated 09.01.2024 of Chikkajala Police Station, Bengaluru City, registered for offences punishable under Ss.8(c) and 22(c) of the NDPS Act, 1985, the Foreigners Order Act 1948, S.7(2) of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and S.14, pending before the XXXIV Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge and Special Judge for NDPS Cases, Bengaluru. Learned counsel for the petitioner, who had been in judicial custody since 09.01.2024, sought dismissal of the petition as not pressed with a time-bound direction to the Trial Court. The Court dismissed the petition as not pressed with liberty as prayed for, directed the Trial Court to expedite the trial and dispose of the case on merits within eight months from receipt of a copy of the order, and reserved liberty to the petitioner to renew his bail application before the Trial Court if the trial is not completed within that period.

1 -

NC: 2026:KHC:35290 CRL.P No. 8014 of 2026

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 13^TH DAY OF JULY, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY

CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8014 OF 2026

BETWEEN:

MR. ARMEL S/O AMI AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS R/A 32, MANJUNATHSWAMI NILAYA NEAR PATAL, KONDAMMA LAYOUT GANTIGANAHALLI, YELAHANKA BENGALURU-560065.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. SOMANNA .K.P, ADVOCATE)

AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA BY CHIKKAJALA POLICE

Digitally signed by CHAITHRA A Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

REPRESENTED BY SPP HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU-560001.

…RESPONDENT

(BY SRI. VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, ADVOCATE)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO DIRECT TO ENLARGE THE ACCUSED NO.1/PETITIONER NO.1 ON REGULAR BAIL IN CR.NO.06/2024 DATED 09.01.2024 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENET CHIKKAJALA P.S. BENGALURU CITY FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 8(c), 22(c) OF NDPS ACT 1985, FOREIGNERS ORDER ACT 1948 U/S 7(2) OF FOREIGNERS ACT 1946 U/S 14 (BEFORE THE HONBLE COURT OF ACJ AND J.M.F.C DEVANAHALLI) NOW

2 -

NC: 2026:KHC:35290 CRL.P No. 8014 of 2026

HC-KAR

PENDING ON THE FILE OF XXXIV ADDL.CITY CIVIL AND SESSION JUDGE AND SPL.JUDGE FOR NDPS CASES AT BENGALURU.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY

ORAL ORDER

After arguing the matter for sometime, learned

counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is in

judicial custody in the present case since 09.01.2024. He

submits that considering the petitioner's period of incarceration, the present petition may be dismissed as not pressed with a direction to the Trial Court to dispose of the case within a stipulated time frame reserving liberty to

the petitioner to renew his application before the Trial Court in the event trial is not completed within the stipulated period.

2. The said submission is placed on record.

3. The petition is dismissed as not pressed with

liberty as prayed for.

3 - NC: 2026:KHC:35290 CRL.P No. 8014 of 2026

HC-KAR

4. Considering the period of petitioner's

incarceration, the Trial Court is directed to expedite the trial in the present case and dispose of the case on merits as expeditiously as possible but not later than a period of eight months from the date of receipt of copy of this order. In the event, the trial is not completed within the aforesaid period, the petitioner is at liberty to renew his bail application before the Trial Court.

Sd/(S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE

NBM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 73