9200 g Ganja Held Intermediate Quantity: Telangana HC Grants Bail to Accused in NDPS Case
The Court imposed strict conditions, including the surrender of the passport and weekly reporting to the police.
The Telangana High Court has granted bail to the accused in a narcotics case involving the seizure of 9200 grams of ganja at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, holding that the seized quantity falls under the intermediate quantity under the Narcotic Drugs
and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS).
The contraband was recovered from two passengers arriving from Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG‑329, with 4.6 kilograms allegedly found in Adnan Ali’s possession. Customs officials registered a case under Sections 20, 23 and 29 of the NDPS Act after seizing the substance concealed in hand baggage.
The petitioner, Adnan Ali, represented by counsel, argued that the seized quantity falls within the category of “intermediate quantity” under the NDPS Act, and that he had been in judicial custody since 27 October 2025.
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It was also submitted that the petitioner is carrying only 4600 grams, which also constitutes an intermediate quantity.
It was submitted that all material witnesses had already been examined and further detention was unnecessary. Counsel stressed that Ali was falsely implicated and sought bail on grounds of fairness and liberty.
Opposing the plea, the Counsel for the Customs Department contended that despite the classification as an intermediate quantity, the substance was costly and the investigation was still ongoing. The prosecution argued that releasing the accused at this stage could hamper the probe and urged dismissal of the petition.
Justice K. Sujana, after hearing both sides and perusing the record, observed that the seized contraband indeed falls under the intermediate category and that a substantial portion of the investigation had been completed.
The Court noted the petitioner’s continued custody since late October and held that further detention was unwarranted in the circumstances. Emphasising that bail is the rule and jail the exception, the Court deemed it fit to grant relief subject to stringent safeguards.
The bail order requires Ali to execute a personal bond of ₹50,000 with two sureties of like sum, surrender his passport to the trial court, and refrain from applying for a fresh passport without prior permission.
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He must also appear before the concerned Station House Officer every Monday at 11 a.m. for eight weeks or until filing of the charge sheet, whichever is earlier, and comply with conditions under Section 437(3) CrPC (now Section 480(3) BNSS). These measures are intended to ensure his availability for investigation and trial while protecting the integrity of the proceedings.
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