1 2025:CGHC:30310 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 3914 of 2025 Iftekhar Alam S/o Samruddin Shah Aged About 24 Years R/o Saitangartoli, P.S. Lodam, Tehsil And District Jashpur (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Lodam, District Jashpur (C.G.) ... Respondent For Applicant : Shri Vedant Shadangi, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Ms. Ankita Shukla, PL. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 03/07/2025 1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No.24/2025 registered at Police Station GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2025.07.04 16:36:16 +0530 2 Lodam, District: Jashpur, (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Section 34 (2) of C.G. Excise Act. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 01.05.2025, Assistant Sub Inspector Manoj Kumar Bhagat of Police Station Lodam received information from an informer that a person is going towards Lodam in Tudurma Podi Road in a Tata Sumo Gold vehicle number JH-01/BA-8018 to sell illegal hand-made raw mahua liquor. On the said information, the incident spot was reached after giving due notice to the staff and witnesses and the said vehicle was stopped at the incident spot and on asking the name and address of the driver, he told his name as applicant/accused Iftekhar Alam, son of Samaruddin Shah, resident of Saitangartoli, Jashpur (C.G.). On proper search of the accused's vehicle, 20 liters of illegal raw mahua liquor filled in a 20-liter capacity black plastic jerrycan was recovered from the possession of the accused and a recovery panchnama was prepared on the spot. The accused was asked to produce a valid licence for selling the said Mahua liquor by giving him a notice but he did not produce any valid licence. The applicant was arrested and subsequently F.I.R. was registered against the applicant on 01.05.2025 for an alleged offence punishable under section 34 (2) of C.G. Excise Act at Police Station Jashpur, District - Jashpur, (C.G.) and investigation was initiated. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in this case and 20 liters of illegal raw 3 mahua liquor was not seized from the exclusive possession of the applicant. He further submits that under Section 34(2) of the C.G. Excise Act, minimum punishment is one year and maximum punishment is three years. He also submits that the applicant is in jail since 01/05/2025 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. Learned counsel for the State/non-applicant would oppose the bail application and submit that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case before the competent Court and the applicant has one criminal antecedent. She further submits that 20 liters of illegal raw mahua liquor was recovered from the possession of the applicant, therefore, he is not entitled 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, nature and gravity of allegation levelled against the applicant and the fact that the applicant has one criminal antecedent, he is in jail since 01/05/2025 and the charge-sheet has been filed, further the conclusion of the trial may take some more time, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case. 7. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed and it is directed that the applicant - Iftekhar Alam, involved in Crime No.24/2025 4 registered at Police Station Lodam, District: Jashpur, (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Section 34 (2) of C.G. Excise Act, be released on bail on his furnishing a 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 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 5 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 for necessary information and compliance forthwith. - Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice gouri