Naggarathnam Nagalechchimi Alias Rajeshwari v. Officer in Charge, Police Narcotic Bureau, Colombo 01 and Hon. Attorney General, Attorney’s Department, Colombo 12 – CA PHC/APN/63/2015-2016

In the case between Naggarathnam Nagalechchimi Alias Rajeshwari (Accused Petitioner) and the Officer in Charge, Police Narcotic Bureau, Colombo 01, along with the Hon. Attorney General (Respondents), the court addressed whether the petitioner, indicted for aiding and abetting the trafficking of a commercial quantity of heroin and with prior related convictions, demonstrated “exceptional circumstances” to warrant bail pending trial. It was held that such circumstances were not established, reaffirming that, under Section 83 of the Poison Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, bail in cases involving commercial quantities of dangerous drugs may only be granted where genuine exceptional circumstances exist. Previous refusal of bail by the High Court was reviewed, and the decision maintained tha