1 CGHC010208532026 2026:CGHC:28613 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 4887 of 2026 Puranlal Verma S/o Lt. Narendra Kumar Verma Aged About 30 Years R/o Village - Tarashiv, Police Station Tilda Neora, District Raipur Chhattisgarh ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through S.H.O. P.S. Tilda Neora, District Raipur Chhattisgarh ... Respondent For Applicant : Shri Chitendra Singh, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Ms. Vaishaili Mahilong, Dy.G.A. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 09/07/2026 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.178/2026 registered at Police Station GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2026.07.11 18:09:33 +0530 2 Tilda Neora, District Raipur Chhattisgarh for the offence punishable under Section 34(2) of Chhattisgarh Excise Act. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 29.04.2026, acting on secret information, the police of Police Station Tilda-Neora apprehended the applicant near Jogi Well, Baikunth while he was allegedly possessing and selling illicit liquor. During the search, 180 quarters (32.400 bulk litres) of country-made liquor worth Rs.18,000 and Rs.900 alleged sale proceeds were recovered from his possession. As the applicant failed to produce any valid licence or document for possession and sale of the liquor, the contraband and cash were seized, and an offence under Section 34(2) of the Excise Act was registered against him vide FIR No. 178/2026. The applicant was arrested and remanded to judicial custody. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in this case. The alleged liquor has not been recovered from exclusive possession of the applicant. He also submits that for the offence under Section 34(2) of the Chattisgarh Excise Act, minimum punishment is one year and maximum punishment is three years. He would submit that the applicant is in jail since 29/04/2026 and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take quite long time. Therefore, he prays for releasing the applicant on regular bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application. She would submit that as per part D of the bail 3 application, the applicant has explained the two criminal antecedents, out of which one case under the Excise Act is pending as per his own showing and besides the same, there is another case under the Excise Act which is of the year 2026 for which there is no disclosure nor any explanation has been given. As such he is a habitual offender and is not entitled for grant of bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, nature of allegation against the applicant, considering the fact that the applicant has explained two criminal antecedents, out of which, one case under the Excise Act is pending as per his own showing and besides the same, there is another case under the Excise Act which is of the year 2026 for which there is no disclosure nor any explanation has been given, as such he is a habitual offender and also in light of the judgment rendered by the Supreme Court in Deepak Yadav v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Another, reported in (2022) 8 SCC 559, wherein the Hon’ble Supreme Court had cancelled the bail granted to the accused therein on the ground that the accused had previous antecedents, therefore this Court is of the opinion that this is not a fit case to enlarge the applicant on regular bail. 7. Accordingly, the bail application of applicant Puranlal Verma 4 involved in Crime No.178/2026 registered at Police Station Tilda Neora, District Raipur Chhattisgarh for the offence punishable under Section 34(2) of Chhattisgarh Excise Act, is rejected. 8. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE gouri