The Delhi High Court has dismissed the interim bail application of Amritpal Singh, an accused in a major drug trafficking case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Singh is linked to the seizure of 103 kg of heroin at the Atari border in April 2022.
Bail Sought Citing Wife’s Surgery
Singh had requested interim bail to care for his wife, a college professor, who is scheduled to undergo gall bladder surgery. His legal team argued that she needed his support post-operation and highlighted their two minor children and financial strain due to the medical procedure.
NIA Opposes Bail Plea
Advocate Shilpa Singh, representing the National Investigation Agency (NIA), opposed the plea. She stated that other family members could assist the wife and that the family was financially secure. The NIA also noted that Singh’s wife is professionally stable, being a faculty member at Guru Arjan Dev College.
Amritpal Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran in Punjab, was detained on December 12, 2023, at Amritsar Airport while allegedly trying to escape to Dubai. Authorities had issued a lookout notice against him just five days earlier, on December 7.
Trial Set to Begin, Court Sees No Urgency
Justice Ravinder Dudeja emphasized that the trial is set to begin shortly at the special NIA court in New Delhi. The court found no compelling reason to grant bail at this stage, especially given the circumstances of his earlier attempted flight.
Another accused in the same case, Vipin Mitta, was granted bail by the Delhi High Court in May 2023. However, Singh’s plea was deemed less justifiable given the current evidence and trial timeline.
