Chandigarh, Aug. 30 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has ordered the release of a car seized by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in a drugs seizure case, as the accused owner died during trial and proceedings were abated against him.

"Apparently, Sections 60(3) and Section 63(1) of the NDPS Act would envisage a situation where the trial has taken place and there is a judgment of conviction or acquittal. Yet another situation is contemplated wherein an accused is discharged. In each of these situations, the vehicle can be confiscated, subject to a hearing to be accorded to a person claiming a right over the same. However, in the instant case, as the trial itself never took place on account of the death of the accused, Kuldeep Sharma...