Delhi High Court: NDPS Act Not Invoked if Drugs Held Under Valid Licence Without Limits

The Delhi High Court ruled that lawful possession of drugs under a valid license does not automatically invoke the NDPS Act.

Justice Arun Monga granted bail to an accused whose premises yielded a large stock of NDPS medicines, finding that his license lacked quantitative limits.

The Court observed that inventory discrepancies could stem from clerical errors, not criminal intent, and emphasised the accused’s clean record and industry compliance.

The Court also flagged the failure to properly communicate arrest grounds, breaching legal safeguards. With the investigation complete, bail was deemed appropriate.

[Naveen Handa v. Central Bureau of Narcotics]