The Supreme Court has granted bail to a man who was convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The court noted that the man had already spent more than seven years in custody. The Patna High Court’s delay in hearing his appeal was a key factor in the decision.
Manoj Kumar Gupta, the appellant, had challenged the Patna High Court’s order from May 15, 2025. The High Court had previously denied his request for suspension of sentence in a case dating back to 2000. The case involved various sections of the NDPS Act.
Considering the prolonged period of incarceration, the Supreme Court decided to grant relief to Gupta. The court suspended his sentence and directed his release on bail while his appeal is pending before the Patna High Court. Gupta will need to comply with the conditions set by the trial court, including paying any fines imposed.
The Supreme Court emphasized that the observations in the order were solely related to the bail decision. The court made it clear that these observations should not impact the ongoing appeal’s merits. Gupta was instructed to actively participate in his appeal proceedings and avoid unnecessary delays.
