1 2025:CGHC:54170 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 8813 of 2025 Ubaran Bharti S/o Punaram Bharti Aged About 38 Years R/o Village- Dotopar, P.S. Balodabazar, Dist- Balodabazar- Bhatapara (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House OfÏcer, P.S. Balodabazar, Dist- Balodabazar- Bhatapara (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Tanuj Patwardhan, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Mr. Amit Verma, Panel Lawyer. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 06.11.2025 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. 842/2025 registered at Police Station Balodabazar, District Balodabazar-Bhatapara (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Section 34(2) of the C.G. Excise Act against the present applicant. 2. The prosecution case in brief is that on 02.09.2025, on the basis of information received from an informant, the staff of Police Station Balodabazar reached Village Dotopar, where they confiscated a total of 10 bulk litres of country-made liquor (Mahua) valued at approximately ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Digitally signed by ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Date: 2025.11.07 14:48:07 +0530 2 Rs. 2,000/-. The accused was served with a notice under Section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) by the police, to which he failed to produce any relevant document in his defence. On this basis, the applicant was arrested by the police of Police Station Balodabazar, District Balodabazar-Bhatapara (C.G.), for the alleged offence punishable under Section 34(2) of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act, 1915. 3. Learned Counsel for the applicant submits that the present applicant has been falsely implicated in this case and the said 10 bulk litres of country- made liquor (Mahua) was not seized from the exclusive possession of the applicant. It is further argued by him that the present applicant has 01 criminal antecedents under the Excise Act which is a pending trial. He also submits that under Section 34(2) of the C.G. Excise Act, minimum punishment is one year and maximum punishment is three years and the present applicant has been in jail since 02.09.2025 and 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 for the State, opposes the bail application and submit that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case before the competent Court. 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, the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the present applicant, and the fact that the applicant has only one criminal antecedent pending against him under the Excise Act, moreover, the fact that the charge-sheet has been filed before the competent Court and he is in jail since 02.09.2025 and conclusion of the trial may take some more 3 time, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case. 7. Let the applicant – Ubaran Bharti, involved in Crime No. 842/2025 registered at Police Station Balodabazar, District Balodabazar- Bhatapara (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Section 34(2) of the C.G. Excise Act against the present applicant, 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 sufÏcient cause, the trial court may proceed against his 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 his, 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, 4 (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 sufÏcient 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. OfÏce 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 Abhishek