NationalSunday, 4 October 2026·The Hindu - Tamil Nadu
Madras HC on NDPS bail: Section 37 can bar bail even after one year of custody
Madras High Court held that bail can be denied in NDPS cases even after one year of incarceration if Section 37 conditions are not satisfied.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In October 2026, the Madras High Court held that in an NDPS case, bail can be denied even after one year of incarceration when Section 37 of the NDPS Act, 1985 is not satisfied, and it refused bail to Muneer Sheik arrested on October 14, 2025 in Tiruvallur district.
Key specifics
- Section 37 of the NDPS Act, 1985 restricts grant of bail in narcotic drug offences.
- The accused, Muneer Sheik, was arrested on October 14, 2025 by Manavala Nagar police in Tiruvallur district.
- The seizure was 55 grams of methamphetamine, which the court treated as commercial quantity because it is above 50 grams.
- Under Section 22(c), conviction can lead to rigorous imprisonment of not less than 10 years and up to 20 years.
- The Forensic Sciences Department confirmed that the seized substance was methamphetamine.
Exam lens
Criminal law question type: NDPS Act provisions, commercial quantity, bail restrictions. TNPSC may ask about Section 37, Section 22(c), 50 grams threshold, and the Madras High Court’s refusal of bail despite long custody.