Agartala, March 20, 2026: The Tripura High Court has granted bail to an accused woman in an NDPS case while directing a probe into alleged procedural lapses by police during her arrest.

In a detailed order delivered on March 16, Justice S. Datta Purkayastha allowed the bail plea of Papi Akter, who was arrested in connection with Sonamura Police Station case No. 97 of 2025 under Sections 20(b)(ii)(B), 25 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

According to the prosecution, police recovered 5.985 kg of गांजा from the accused’s residence at Sonamura on the night of November 24, 2025, acting on specific intelligence inputs. Her husband, also named in the case, allegedly fled from the spot and remains absconding.

During the hearing, the defence argued that the accused was detained at night but formally shown arrested the next morning, allegedly violating provisions related to arrest of women under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Code of Criminal Procedure. It was contended that such violation of procedural safeguards entitled the accused to bail.

The State, however, maintained that the detention was necessitated by urgent circumstances to prevent the आरोपी from fleeing and argued that such procedural provisions are not strictly mandatory in all situations.

After examining legal precedents from multiple High Courts and the Supreme Court, the Tripura High Court observed that while safeguards regarding arrest of women are important, non-compliance does not automatically confer an indefeasible right to bail in every case.

Significantly, the Court noted the absence of any explanation as to why the accused, allegedly detained on the night of November 24, was formally shown arrested only the next morning. It held that the matter warrants inquiry, though it refrained from making any definitive finding on deliberate violation.

Taking into account that the seized quantity falls under the intermediate category, investigation is complete, and the accused has been in custody for a considerable period, the Court granted bail with strict conditions. These include furnishing a bond of ₹1 lakh, restriction on leaving Tripura without court permission, weekly attendance before the trial court, and non-interference with witnesses.

The Court also directed the Director General of Police to conduct an inquiry, through an officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police, into the alleged violation of arrest procedures. It ordered that appropriate departmental action be taken if any deliberate lapse is established.