1 CGHC010248182026 2026:CGHC:27957 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 5989 of 2026 Mahesh Sahu S/o Late Chhedi Sahu Aged About 36 Years R/o Village Nagfeni, Police Station Sisai, District – Murgu, Gumla (Jharkhand) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Masturi, District – Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Rudra Pratap Dubey, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Mr. Sangharsh Pandey, Govt. Advocate. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 07.07.2026 1. This is the Third 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. 649/2024 registered at Police Station – Masturi, District – Bilaspur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Section 18 of the NDPS Act. 2. The earlier two bail applications filed by the applicant were rejected vide orders dated 24.04.2025 and 23.03.2026 passed in MCRC No. 3134 of 2025 and MCRC No. 2686 of 2026, respectively, on the ground that the applicant has criminal antecedents of a similar nature. 3. The brief prosecution case is that, acting on information received from an ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Digitally signed by ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Date: 2026.07.08 14:22:24 +0530 2 informant, the police of Police Station Masturi allegedly recovered 2.128 kg of contraband poppy straw (Afim), from Truck bearing Registration No. MH-19-Z-7613, which was allegedly in the possession of accused Navnoor Singh. Thereafter, the said accused, Navnoor Singh, was arrested, and on the basis of his memorandum statement, co-accused Harvansh was arrested. Subsequently, on the basis of the memorandum statement of the said co-accused Harvansh, the present applicant was arrested. 4. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that this is the third bail application. The earlier two bail applications filed by the applicant were rejected vide orders dated 24.04.2025 and 23.03.2026 passed in MCRC No. 3134 of 2025 and MCRC No. 2686 of 2026, respectively, on the ground that the applicant has criminal antecedents of a similar nature. He further submits that the charge-sheet has already been filed and, till date, only 03 out of the 18 prosecution witnesses have been examined. It is also submitted that the applicant has been in judicial custody since 06.12.2024 and, as the conclusion of the trial is likely to take some more time, he prays that the applicant be enlarged on regular bail. 5. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the prayer for grant of regular bail to the applicant, submitting that the earlier two bail applications filed by the present applicant were rejected on the ground that he has 02 criminal antecedents under the NDPS Act, which are still pending. Therefore, it is submitted that the applicant is not entitled to the grant of regular bail. 6. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, particularly the fact 3 that the earlier two bail applications filed by the applicant were rejected on the ground of his criminal antecedents of a similar nature under the NDPS Act, which are still pending, and there being no substantial change in circumstances except the examination of 03 out of 18 prosecution witnesses, therefore, I do not find any good ground for granting bail. 8. Accordingly, the third bail application of the applicant – Mahesh Sahu, filed under Section 483 of the BNSS, involved in Crime No. 649/2024 registered at Police Station – Masturi, District – Bilaspur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Section 18 of the NDPS Act, is rejected. 9. Office 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