The court of the Special Judge in Sarkaghat, Mandi, rejected the regular bail applications of two men accused in a 500 g charas case.[1] Police had stopped a car at a checkpoint near the 33 kV Bhararu substation on 28 September 2026 and found 500 g of charas in a black bag on the dashboard.[1] Both were arrested and a case was registered against them at Jogindernagar police station under sections 20, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act.[2] Police said the men admitted during questioning that they had made the charas themselves and were looking for customers to sell it.[1] The court cited their old criminal record and the seriousness of the charges when it rejected bail.[1]

At the hearing it emerged that Lal Singh had already been sentenced to three years and one month in another NDPS case on 29 March 2025.[1] The conviction was recorded in his bail application, but the prosecution’s reply described the first information report in that case as pending.[1] The court questioned whether the lapse was accidental or deliberate.[1] It directed the Superintendent of Police to investigate the conduct of the police officer concerned and to take action under the rules if needed.[1] The Superintendent of Police must submit an action report to the court within 30 days of receiving the reference.[1]

The two were produced in court on 29 September, and police said they were investigating where the charas came from and where it was to be delivered.[2] Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar confirmed the arrests and said the investigation was continuing.[2]