1 2026:CGHC:9514 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 987 of 2026 Ravi Kurrey S/o Shri Budhari Kurrey Aged About 43 Years R/o Village Ameri Dihpara, P.S. and Tahsil Sakri, District – Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Sakri, District – Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh ... Non-Applicant For Applicant : Mr. Pawan Kumar Kashyap, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Ms. Smriti Shrivastava, Panel Lawyer. Hon’ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 24/02/2026 1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No.963/2025 registered at Police Station- Sakri, District – Bilaspur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Section 34(2) of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act. 2. The brief prosecution case is that the police received secret information from an informant that, on the date of the incident, an unknown person was in possession of illegal liquor for the purpose of sale. Acting on the said information, the police reached the spot and seized 7.560 litres of country-made hand liquor from an open place near Dihpara Pond. The accused failed to produce any valid documents in respect of the seized PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2026.02.25 12:00:08 +0530 2 liquor. Accordingly, the police registered a case against the applicant for the offence punishable under Section 34(2) of the Act. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that the applicant has 07 previous criminal antecedents, out of which 05 cases are pending, the same has been explained in paragraph No.4(a) of this bail application. Counsel further submits that the charge-sheet has already been filed in the present matter and the applicant has been in judicial custody since 13.12.2025. It is also argued that under Section 34(2) of the C.G. Excise Act, the prescribed punishment ranges from a minimum of one year to a maximum of three years of imprisonment. Considering that the conclusion of the trial is likely to take a considerable amount of time, it is prayed that the applicant be enlarged on regular bail. 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 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 applicant, and the fact that the charge-sheet has already been filed and the applicant has been in judicial custody since 13.12.2025, so far as the criminal antecedents of the applicant are concerned, the same have been duly explained in paragraph No. 4(a) of the present bail application, further considering that the conclusion of the trial is likely to take some time, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in the present case. 3 7. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed. Let the applicant - Ravi Kurrey, involved in Crime No.963/2025 registered at Police Station- Sakri, District – Bilaspur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Section 34(2) of the Chhattisgarh 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 BNS. (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 BNS. (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 4 under Section 351 of BNSS. If in the opinion of the trial Court absence of the applicant 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 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 Preeti