Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source internet
Shimla, Dec 11,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has dismissed the bail application of Sandeep Shah, a key operative in an international heroin trafficking active in Indian Jail network, observing that his release would pose a serious threat to society already battling an escalating drug crisis. Justice Sandeep Sharma passed the order on December 9, noting Shah’s repeated involvement in narcotics cases and his history of evading law enforcement and fathem high jail walls.
Shah, arrested on April 21, 2025, is accused of orchestrating supply chains of heroin, commonly known as chitta, into Shimla using a network of couriers, virtual phone numbers, online messaging routes, and QR code-based payment methods. According to the case record, the racket first came to light after the arrest of Veer Singh, who was caught with 7.98 grams of heroin near Lalpani Bus Stop in April 2024. Police later unearthed financial trails and WhatsApp communication that allegedly linked Shah to the supply network. Payments for the contraband were made through UPI accounts and QR codes, while shipments were routed via courier from Delhi.
Investigation revealed that Shah had connections with a Delhi-based African supplier and had previously been arrested in multiple drug-related cases since 2021. The court noted that five NDPS cases and one IPC case are pending against him, and that he had been declared a proclaimed offender on multiple occasions for absconding during trial.
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The judge observed that Shah’s conduct demonstrated a clear pattern of continued involvement in narcotics trafficking, adding that protecting his liberty at this stage would be “a bane for society,” particularly amid the growing drug menace affecting the youth of Himachal Pradesh. Given the gravity of charges, past conduct, and the Supreme Court’s direction to conclude the trial within a year, the court said no grounds existed for granting bail.
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