1 2025:CGHC:60430 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 8033 of 2025 1 - Vasant Shyamrao Omkare S/o Shyam Rao Omkare Aged About 32 Years R/o Antule Nagar, Near Ganpati Mandir Pisoli P.S. Pisoli, District- Pune (Maharashtra) 2 - Rahul Ashok Doifode S/o Ashok Doifode Aged About 37 Years R/o Nira Pinpare Village- Purandar P.S. Nira District- Pune (Maharashtra) (As Per F.I.R.) ... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Police Station Somni District- Rajnandgaon (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Ashish Gangwani as well as Mr. Karanjeet Bodhani, Advocates. For Respondent(s) : Ms. Ankita Shukla, Panel Lawyer. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 11/12/2025 1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN Digitally signed by AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN 2 grant of regular bail to the applicants who have been arrested in connection with Crime No. 210/2025 registered at Police Station Somni District- Rajnandgaon (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 20(B)(II)(B) of N.D.P.S. Act. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that based on informer information on 14.09.2025, the Somni Police recovered 16 kg of Ganja from the joint possession of the applicants. Consequently, Crime No. 210/2025 was registered, and the applicants were arrested for possession of the contraband. Hence, the bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants have been falsely implicated in this case and the contraband Ganja was not seized from the exclusive possession of the applicants. 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 joint possession of the applicants 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 joint possession of the applicants only 16 kg Ganja has been seized. He later submits that the applicants have no criminal antecedent and they are jail since 14.09.2025 and the conclusion 3 of the trial is likely to take quite long time. Therefore, he prays for grant of regular bail to the applicants. 4. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for the State/non- applicants opposes the bail application and submit that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case before the competent Court and also endorse the said submission that the applicants have no criminal antecedent. She further submits that from the joint possession of the applicants contraband article i.e. 16 kg of Ganja is seized, therefore, the present applicants are 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 and the fact that the applicants have no criminal antecedent and the contraband article i.e. 16 kg Ganja recovered from the joint possession of the applicants is less than the commercial quantity and the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case before the competent Court, this Court is of the view that the applicants are entitled to be released on bail in this case. 7. Accordingly, the application is allowed. 8. Let the Applicants-Vasant Shyamrao Omkare and Rahul Ashok Doifode, involved in Crime No. 210/2025 registered at Police Station Somni District- Rajnandgaon (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 20(B)(II)(B) of N.D.P.S. Act, be 4 released on bail on their furnishing a personal bond with two local sureties each in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicants shall file an undertaking to the effect that they 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 applicants shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through their counsel. In case of their absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicants misuse the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure their presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicants fail to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against them, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicants 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 applicants are 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 them in accordance with law. 5 9. However, this Court hopes and trusts that the trial Court shall make earnest endeavour to conclude the trial expeditiously preferably within a period of six months from today in accordance with law, if there is no legal impediment. 10. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Akhil