1 2025:CGHC:35544 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 4793 of 2025 Vivek Kumar Sahu S/o Dev Singh Sahu Aged About 29 Years R/o Sanjay Nagar, Balod, Tahsil And District Balod Chhattisgarh ... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through P.S. Balod, District Balod Chhattisgarh ... Non-applicant(s) For Applicant : Mr. Hemant Gupta, Advocate For Non-applicant/State : Mr. Bharat Gulbani, Panel Lawyer Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 23.07.2025 1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 221/2025 registered at Police Station-Balod District - Balod (C.G.) for the offence under Section 20(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief is that the police of Police Station Balod District - Balod (C.G.), received a secret information from the informant and on the said information police conducted a raid and seized 2.068 Kgs of Ganja from the possession of the present KUNAL DEWANGAN Digitally signed by KUNAL DEWANGAN 2 applicant which was kept in his scooty’s dicky. Thereafter, offence punishable under Section 20(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, has been registered against present applicant. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in this case and the contraband Ganja was not seized from the exclusive possession of the applicant. He further submits that that prosecution agency has not followed the provisions under Section 42 of the NDPS Act and not taken search warrant from the superior authority. He also submits that from the possession of the applicant less than intermediate quantity of the psychotropic substance ganja has been seized, and therefore, it will not attract the rigors of Section 37 of the NDPS Act as the commercial quantity of ganja as prescribed under the schedule is more than 20 kgs and from the possession of the applicant only 2.068 kg Ganja has been seized. He later submits that the applicant has no criminal antecedent and he is in jail since 30.05.2025 and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take quite long time. Therefore, he prays for grant of regular bail to the applicant. 4. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for the State/non- applicant would oppose the bail application and submit that the charge-sheet has not filed in the present case before the competent Court and also endorse the said submission that the applicant has no criminal antecedent and further the said quantity of contraband article seized from the possession of the applicant, is less than intermediate quantity, however, the present applicant is not entitled 3 for grant of bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case that in the present case, charge-sheet has been filed before the competent Court which is taken on record and further the quantity of contraband article which is said to have been recovered from the possession of the applicant, is less than intermediate quantity and the applicant has no criminal antecedent and moreover, he is in jail since 30.05.2025 and conclusion of the trial may take some time, therefore, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case. 7. 7. Let the Applicant – Vivek Kumar Sahu, involved in Crime No. 221/2025 registered at Police Station-Balod District - Balod (C.G.) for the offence under Section 20(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, be released on bail on furnishing personal bond with two sureties in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law. (ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through 4 his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the Court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 351 of BNSS. If in the opinion of the trial court absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against him in accordance with law. 8. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Kunal