Rinku Kumar @ Lado Vs State of Punjab — Narcotics (NDPS) | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

Rinku Kumar @ Lado Vs State of Punjab — Narcotics (NDPS) | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

The application was disposed with directions (instead of one-month interim bail) that the appellant be taken from jail to his home/village in police custody for at least five hours to attend the bhog ceremony of his deceased daughter and meet his parents and close relatives, on the date given by the appellant, and be lodged back in jail the same day after the ceremony.

Issue for consideration

Whether the appellant, in custody in connection with FIR No.8 dated 14.01.2022 (P.S. STF, SAS Nagar), should be granted interim bail for one month owing to the death of his daughter, to make arrangements for and perform the last rites/bhog ceremony.

Ratio / Principle

The prayer for one-month interim bail was not granted in that form: the State counsel pointed out that two months had already passed since the death of the appellant's daughter and hardly any ritual remained to be performed.

Key takeaways

Considering the setback suffered by the appellant, he was ordered to be taken to his home to meet his parents and close relatives so as to receive condolence on the demise of his daughter.ratio¶18
The appellant was to be allowed to stay in his house for a reasonable time, at least five hours, on account of the performance of the bhog ceremony.ratio¶18
The concerned Superintendent of Jail was directed to ensure that the appellant attends the bhog ceremony of his daughter in his village in police custody for five hours on the date indicated by the appellant, and is lodged back in jail the same day once the ceremony is over.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Interim bail - last rites/bhog ceremony - appellant in custody in FIR No.8 dated 14.01.2022 (P.S. STF, SAS Nagar) under NDPS Act Ss.21, 23 & 29, Arms Act S.25, Explosive Act Ss.4 & 5 and UAPA Ss.13, 16, 18 & 20 sought one-month interim bail on the death of his daughter Harsimrat Kaur (expired 02.01.2026, verified by State counsel). Observing that two months had elapsed and hardly any ritual remained, the Court declined month-long interim bail but, considering the setback to the appellant, directed that he be taken to his home to receive condolences and attend the bhog ceremony for at least five hours in police custody in his village, on a date given by him, to be lodged back in jail the same day; application disposed accordingly (Anoop Chitkara, J.).

230

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CRA-D-305-2026 DECIDED ON: 10.03.2026

RINKU KUMAR @ LADO

…..PETITIONER

VERSUS

STATE OF PUNJAB

.....RESPONDENT

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANOOP CHITKARA HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE SUKHVINDER KAUR

Present: Mr. Rajiv Kumar Saini, Advocate for the appellant.

Ms. Pooja Nayar Sharma, DAG, Punjab.

ANOOP CHITKARA , J. (Oral)

The instant 2^nd Appeal is filed for granting interim bail for one month to the appellant on account of death of his Daughter Harsimrat Kaur to make the arrangment of the last rights cermonies in FIR No.8 dated 14.01.2022 under Sections 21, 23 and 29 of NDPS Act, Section 25 of Arms Act, Sections 4 & 5 of Explosive Act and Sections 13, 16, 18 and 20 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act P.S. Special Task Force, SAS Nagar.

The death of the appellant’s daughter has been duly verified by the State counsel. As per State counsel, the daughter of the appellant has expired on 02.01.2026. Since two months have passed since the daughter of the appellant expired, there would be hardly any ritual left to be performed now.

Counsel for the appellant submits that bhog ceremony is yet to be performed.

However, considering the set back suffered by the appellant, he is

POONAM 2026.03.13 18:17 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

ordered to be taken to his home to meet his parents and close relatives so that he can get condolence on the demise of his daughter. He shall be allowed to stay in his house for a reasonable time at least for five hours on account of performance of bhog ceremony.

Accordingly, the concerned Superintendent of Jail shall ensure that the appellant shall attend bhog ceremony of his daughter in his village in police custody for five hours on the date given by the appellant and he be lodged back in the jail on the same day after bhog ceremony is over.

With the aforesaid observation, the present application stands disposed

of accordingly.

(ANOOP CHITKARA) JUDGE

(SUKHVINDER KAUR) March 10, 2026 JUDGE

poonam

POONAM 2026.03.13 18:17 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document