The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Thursday granted bail to Kashmiri native Maqsood Ahmad Patloo, accused in a drug trafficking case.
The accused was arrested by Anjuna police during a late-night raid on August 3, 2025, after being caught with alleged possession of 1.77 kg of suspected ganja, 56 grams of suspected hydroponic ganja and cash of Rs 7 lakh.
Opposing bail, the State claimed the accused was a habitual offender with previous NDPS cases and apprehended he could abscond, as he is a resident of Kashmir with no fixed address in Goa.
The Bench of Justice Shreeram Shirsat allowed Patloo’s bail noting that the seized quantity was not commercial, the chemical analyser’s report was not on record, and criminal antecedents alone could not be grounds to deny bail. It observed that the prosecution’s concerns could be addressed through strict conditions.
Granting bail, the court directed the accused to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties, report weekly to Anjuna police, surrender his passport, if any, among other conditions. The court also clarified that its observations were confined to the bail stage and would not affect the trial on merits.
