Sammugan Sagadevan vs Hon. Attorney General and The Officer-in-Charge – CA CASE NO: BAL/201/2023-2023

In the case between the Accused-Petitioner and the Hon. Attorney General along with the Officer-in-Charge, Police Narcotic Bureau, the issue addressed was whether exceptional circumstances warranted the granting of bail under Section 83(2) of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance when the petitioner had been held in remand for an extended period without trial. It was held that prolonged pre-trial detention, custodial hardships, and procedural delays can cumulatively amount to exceptional circumstances justifying bail, reaffirming the principle that statutory restrictions on bail in serious narcotics offenses may be overridden in the presence of unique and compelling factors. The decision was based on the relevant statutory framework and established case law, emphasizing the sign