The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed the bail plea of Vinit Yadav, a Pinjore-based doctor arrested in May 2023 for allegedly running an illegal de-addiction centre and possessing drugs beyond permissible limits.
The bench, led by Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul, emphasized the high ethical standards expected from medical practitioners, particularly those operating de-addiction centres. “The general public places immense trust in the medical profession, especially when seeking treatment. The allegation that a medical practitioner entrusted with the care of vulnerable individuals has been involved in diverting narcotic substances and facilitating their illegal distribution in the community warrants serious consideration,” the court noted.
Yadav was booked under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and was arrested on May 4, 2023. Although he was granted default bail in November 2023, it was later cancelled in February 2024. His plea argued that since the investigation had concluded and the chargesheet had been filed, he should be granted bail.
During a raid on the unlicensed de-addiction centre, police recovered 27,000 buprenorphine tablets, leading to the invocation of stringent provisions under Section 37 of the NDPS Act, which imposes rigorous conditions for granting bail.
The court highlighted the gravity of the allegations, pointing out that the illicit distribution of narcotic substances under the guise of a de-addiction centre poses serious social consequences. “This court cannot turn a blind eye to the potential social impact of these allegations, as they contribute to perpetuating a cycle of drug dependency in a country already grappling with the narcotics crisis,” the court observed while dismissing the bail plea.
