NEW DELHI, June 4: The Delhi High Court has granted regular bail to a woman accused of attempting to smuggle more than 10 kilograms of ganja into India while allegedly posing as a National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer using forged credentials.
Justice Prateek Jalan observed that the seized contraband fell under the category of intermediate quantity, making the stringent bail restrictions under Section 37 of the NDPS Act inapplicable. The Court also took note of the accused’s serious medical condition, stating that she is HIV-positive, immunocompromised, and requires uninterrupted antiretroviral treatment and continuous medical care.
The Court noted that although the allegation of impersonating a law enforcement officer was serious, the offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) carry a maximum punishment of three to seven years. Considering that the woman had already spent more than six months in custody and the trial was likely to take considerable time, the Court found further incarceration unwarranted.
According to the prosecution, Customs officials intercepted the woman at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on November 8, 2025, after she arrived from Bangkok. A search of her luggage allegedly led to the recovery of over 10 kilograms of ganja concealed in a trolley bag. Investigators also recovered a fake NIA identity card and an NIA-branded jacket.
The prosecution claimed that the accused used forged credentials to avoid scrutiny during multiple trips from Bangkok. During questioning, she allegedly admitted to making three similar trips at the behest of a person identified as “Ali” and receiving ₹50,000 for each delivery.
However, the Court rejected the prosecution’s claim that she was the kingpin of a drug trafficking syndicate, noting that its own case suggested she acted under another individual’s instructions. Since none of the 16 prosecution witnesses have been examined so far and the trial is expected to be prolonged, the Court ordered her release on bail subject to specified conditions.
