The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday refused to grant bail to Amit Gambhir, accused by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of playing a key role in an alleged narco-terror network linked to cross-border drug smuggling and illegal money transfers. The courtroom was attentive as the bench made it clear that, at this stage, the case went far beyond an ordinary bail plea.
Background
The case traces back to June 2019, when customs officials at Attari intercepted a truckload of rock salt imported from Pakistan. What seemed routine quickly turned alarming. Hidden inside the consignment were hundreds of kilograms of heroin and mixed narcotics, valued by investigators at over ₹72,000 crore in the international market.
As the probe widened, the NIA took over, alleging a larger conspiracy involving smugglers, foreign handlers, and financial conduits. Amit Gambhir’s name surfaced later, through supplementary charge-sheets, with the agency claiming he facilitated hawala transfers worth more than ₹4 crore. Gambhir has been in custody since January 2020 and this was his fourth attempt to secure bail.
Court’s Observations
The division bench noted that the allegations were not about a stray or small transaction. “This is not a case of a few thousands or a few lakhs,” the court observed, pointing to detailed material suggesting repeated, large-scale money transfers routed to Dubai in dirhams.
The judges emphasised the strict bar under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which allows bail only if the court finds no prima facie case. Referring to Supreme Court precedents, the bench remarked that at the bail stage, courts are not expected to conduct a mini-trial but only see whether the accusations appear credible on record.
The court also rejected the argument of parity with co-accused who were granted bail earlier, noting that their roles were materially different. On the issue of long custody, the bench acknowledged the concern but added that prolonged detention alone cannot override allegations touching national security. As the bench put it, “Proceeds of narcotics smuggled into the country being sent abroad through hawala to fuel terrorist activities cannot be taken lightly.”
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Decision
Concluding that there were reasonable grounds to believe the accusations against Amit Gambhir were prima facie true, the High Court dismissed his bail appeal. While declining relief, the bench directed the trial court to speed up the proceedings, observing that the case involved a large number of witnesses and should not be allowed to drift endlessly.
Case Title: Amit Gambhir vs National Investigation Agency
Case No.: CRA-D-986-2023 (O&M)
Case Type: Criminal Appeal (Bail under UAPA & NDPS Act)
Decision Date: 19 December 2025
