1 2025:CGHC:37356 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 5958 of 2025 Sangram Bag S/o Jagabandhu Bag Aged About 26 Years (Wrongly Mentioned As Jagbandhu Bag) Aadhar No. 310701658921) R/o Tora Adarshpada Thana- City Kotwali Bargarh District- Bargarh (Odisha) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through The Police Station - Sariya District- Sarangarh- Bhilaigarh (C.G.) ... Non-Applicant For Applicant : Mr. Hari Agrawal, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Ms. Shubha Shrivastava, Panel Lawyer. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 30.07.2025 1. The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in connection with Crime No.25/2025, registered at Police Station: Sariya District- Sarangarh- Bhilaigarh (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Section 20 (b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, for short, the NDPS Act. PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2025.07.31 12:12:48 +0530 2 2. As per the prosecution story, is that on 14.02.2025, the police authorities received a tip-off that the applicant was transporting a cannabis-like substance in a white Bolero vehicle bearing registration No. CG-04-M-8789, travelling from Kanchanpur to Bilaspur. Acting on this information, the police formed a raid party and set up a cordon near the main road ahead of the Sariya Police Station to conduct a raid under the provisions of the NDPS Act. After some time, a white Bolero vehicle matching the informant’s description was seen approaching Sariya from the State of Odisha. The vehicle was intercepted, and upon questioning and subsequent search, 50 packets wrapped in khaki-coloured tape were found hidden in a secret compartment behind the rear seat. These packets contained a cannabis-like substance, and a total of 50 kilograms of ganja was seized from the applicant. Following this seizure, the applicant was arrested, and an FIR was registered against him under Section 20(b) of the NDPS Act. 3. It has been argued by the learned counsel for the applicant that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. It is further submitted that no contraband articles has been seized from the possession of the applicant. The applicant is a driver of the vehicle and on the direction of owner of the vehicle, he took the vehicle from Bargarh to Bilaspur to pick-up a person from Raipur, further the charge-sheet has not been filed. The applicant is in jail since 14.02.2025. The conclusion of the trial is likely to take some time, therefore, he prays for grant of bail. 4. On the other hand, the learned counsel for the State opposes the bail application and submits that the quantity of 50 kg contraband (ganja) 3 has been seized from the possession of the applicant, which is much more than the commercial quantity. Hence, his bail application is liable to be dismissed. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 6. Taking into consideration the fact that the quantity of contraband article i.e.50 kgs contraband (ganja), which is much more than the commercial quantity and the applicant has failed to give any explanation for the same and it cannot be said to be a case of false implication, accordingly, the bail application of applicant – Sangram Bag involved in Crime No.25/2025, registered at Police Station: Sariya District- Sarangarh- Bhilaigarh (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Section 20 (b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, for short, the NDPS Act, is rejected at this stage. 7. Needless to say that the trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed and conclude the trial expeditiously. 8. The Office is directed to provide a certified copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Preeti