In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court of India denied anticipatory bail to an accused in a narcotics case, drawing parallels between the real-life drug trade and the portrayal of organized crime in popular TV series like Narcos and Breaking Bad.
The Court highlighted the dangers posed by drug syndicates to the youth of the nation.
A Bench comprising Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma was hearing an appeal filed against an October 4 ruling of the Delhi High Court, which had refused anticipatory bail to Waseem Sheikh, a married man allegedly linked to a drug bust.
In April, 73.80 grams of smack (heroin) was seized from one of his purported employees.
During the hearing, Justice Sharma remarked, “You cannot fight with these people who are literally killing the youth of this country. Let me ask you, have you seen Narcos? It portrays strong syndicates, rarely caught. Another must-watch is Breaking Bad. These examples underscore the serious threat of drug mafias.”
Delhi High Court’s Observations Upheld
The Delhi High Court had earlier ruled against granting anticipatory bail, citing the nascent stage of investigation.
The Court noted that while no contraband was directly recovered from the accused, his evasion of notices under Section 67 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) and the need for custodial interrogation warranted denial of bail.
“To grant anticipatory bail in a case of this nature is not warranted. Custodial interrogation is within the discretion of the Investigating Officer,” the High Court had observed.
The Supreme Court upheld this reasoning, reiterating the severity of the drug problem in India and the importance of curbing it through stringent measures. The case is likely to set a precedent for similar matters under the NDPS Act.
Parties Involved and Bench Details
- Case Name: Waseem Sheikh v. State of NCT of Delhi
- Bench: Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma