Law: Criminal Procedure Code, 1898

Section: 497(2)

Law: Drugs Act, 1976

Section: 27(1)(a)

PLJ 2026 Cr.C. (Note) 21 [Lahore High Court, Multan Bench] Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 (V of 1898)-- ----S. 497(2)--Drugs Act, 1976 (XXXI of 1976), S. 27(1)(a)--Bail, grant of--Allegation of--Stocking selling drugs on motor bike--Importer of surious drugs--Further inquiry--Prosecution has not fulfilled requirements outlined in Section 19 of Punjab Drugs Rules, 2007 while registering case against petitioner, as he was not registered person under Section 24 (1) (a) Of Pharmacy Act, 1967--This is a serious lapse on part of prosecution--Record is silent about status of petitioner whether he was license holder, manufacturer, distributer or importer of spurious drugs--He claims to be a son of one employee as delivery boy--On tentative assessment of all these facts and circumstances, High Court is of considered view that case of petitioner falls within purview of “further inquiry” as envisaged by sub-section (2) of Section 497 of Cr.P.C., entitling him to grant of discretionary relief of grant of bail.           [Para 3 & 4] A & B Order Petitioner (Ahmad Ali) seeks post arrest bail in case FIR No. C-438/25 dated 04.09.2025, for offence under Section 27(1) (a) of Drug Act, 1976 and Rules Framed thereunder registered at P.S. FIA/CC, District Multan. 2.       Concise facts of the case are that on 28.04.2025 at about 07.00 p.m. the area Drug Inspector Muhammad Ali Khalil along with Sabir Ali, Drug Controller, Shershah Town Multan, Qaiser Iqbal, SHO/Inspector FIA, Multan and Muhammad Akram, Khalasi O/o CEO (DHA), Multan caught Malik Ahmad Ali Bhutta son of Malik Ghulam Fareed Bhutta resident of House No. 121, Ward No. 7, Bairon Pak Gate, Mohallah Dholian Wala, Multan in Qamar-ud-Din Dawa Khana Wali Gali stocking/selling Drugs on Motorbike bearing No. MNL-9230 and recovered and seized 03 different types of drugs on Form-5 and also took samples of these drugs on Form-4 for test analysis and Drug Testing Lab Multan declared questioned drugs SUPRIOUS. Hence the case was reported to District Quality Control Board Multan who granted permission for registration of FIR…