NIA Can Investigate Unscheduled Offences Connected With Scheduled Offences : Supreme Court

- SC held that the NIA has the power to investigate an offence, which is not included in the schedule of the NIA Act, if it is connected with an offence which is included in the schedule of the NIA Act.

- SC clarified this legal position while upholding the order of the Punjab & Haryana High Court which cancelled the bail of a man accused in a case involving 500 kgs of heroin smuggling from Pakistan, observing that his custodial interrogation would be required to know the "hawala channels."

- As per the schedule of the NIA Act, offences under eight laws are mentioned. In the present case, offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act), which are not scheduled offences, were also involved.