The Supreme Court has clarified that the NDPS (Seizure, Storage, Sampling & Disposal) Rules, 2022 do not prevent courts from granting interim release of a seized vehicle when the owner appears to be innocent and uninvolved in the alleged drug offence. Emphasising that the Rules cannot override the Special Court’s powers under Sections 451 and 457 of the CrPC, the Court held that ownership rights of blameless vehicle owners must be protected. In the case before it, the Court ordered the interim release of a lorry after finding no evidence that the owner knew it was being misused for transporting contraband.
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