Criminal Misc.-M No. 22331 of 2011 [1] IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Criminal Misc.-M No. 22331 of 2011 (O&M) Date of decision: 3.8.2011 Nawab Ali @ Ali .. Petitioner v. State of Punjab .. Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH BINDAL Present: Mr. Vikas Gupta, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Abhishek Chautala, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab. ... Rajesh Bindal J. Prayer in the present petition is for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner, who is an accused in FIR No. 26 dated 2.5.2010, registered under Section 15 of the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, Police Station, Meharban, District Ludhiana, on account of recovery of 10 kilograms of poppy husk. The petitioner was initially arrested and released on regular bail. However, he absented from the court since 8.11.2010. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner had wrongly noted the date as 8.1.2011 instead of 8.11.2010 and on that account, he could not appear in court on that date and thereafter apprehending his arrest, the petitioner did not appear before the court. Learned counsel for the State submitted that the petitioner absented from the court for six dates of hearing, which resulted in delay of trial. He had earlier been convicted in a case registered against him under the Punjab Excise Act on 16.9.2010, but was released on probation. Criminal Misc.-M No. 22331 of 2011 [2] After hearing learned counsel for the parties, in my opinion, the petitioner in the present case does not deserve the concession of pre- arrest bail and he needs to be put in custody for absenting from the court for a period of about eight months. If the petitioner surrenders in the court below within 10 days from today, he will be kept in custody for a period of 15 days and thereafter released on bail on furnishing of fresh bail bonds to the satisfaction of the court below. However, if the petitioner does not surrender within 10 days from today, he will not be entitled to take benefit of order granting him bail after 15 days of surrender. The petition stands disposed of. (Rajesh Bindal) Judge 3.8.2011 mk