1 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 1172 of 2026 Rajesh Sharma S/o Somdutt @ Somdas Sharma Aged About 38 Years R/o Dheerajpura Khetdi, Jhunjhun, Police Station Mehana, Rajasthan ... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through The SHO, Police Station Ratanpur, District Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Siddharth Pandey, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Ms. Ankita Shukla, Panel Lawyer Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 04.02.2026 1. The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the BNSS in connection with Crime No.585/2024, registered at Police Station- Ratanpur, District- Bilaspur, (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 20(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short, the NDPS Act). 2. The prosecution story in brief, is that, on 13.09.2024, officers of AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN Digitally signed by AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN 2 Police Station- Ratanpur allegedly received a tip-off from an informant that near Bengali Resort, Village Lalpur, a Maruti Suzuki Swift car bearing registration No. HR-51-AM-8554 was carrying 101.700 kg of Ganja. Acting upon the said information, the police intercepted the vehicle. Upon being apprehended, the applicant disclosed his name and, on the basis of his memorandum statement, other persons were subsequently implicated and arrayed as co-accused in the present case. 3. It is argued by the learned counsel for the applicant that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. It is further argued that the police has not seized psychotropic substances from the exclusive possession of the applicant. The alleged contraband article has not been recovered from exclusive possession of the applicant. The applicant was merely the driver of the vehicle and he had no knowledge that contraband Ganja was kept in the car. Further, the applicant is languishing in jail since 13.09.2024, though the charge-sheet has been filed, but it may take some time to conclude the trial, therefore, he prays for grant of bail. 4. On the other hand, the learned counsel for the State opposes the bail application and submits that from the possession of applicant and other co-accused, total 101.700 kgs of ganja has been seized which is much above the commercial quantity, as the commercial quantity of ganja is 20 kgs, hence, the bail application of the applicant is liable to be rejected. She further submits that first and 3 second bail applications of co-accused, Bikram Patra have already been rejected by this Court vide orders dated 01.04.2025 and 12.06.2025 in MCRC No. 2519 of 2025 and MCRC No.4399 of 2025 and the case of the present applicant is identical to that of the said co-accused, hence his bail application is also liable to be rejected. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 6. Taking into consideration the nature and gravity of the offence and the fact that from the joint possession of applicant and co-accused persons, 101.700 kgs of ganja has been seized which is much above the commercial quantity, as the commercial quantity of ganja is 20 kgs furthermore, first bail application as well as second bail application of co-accused, Bikram Patra have already been rejected by this Court and the case of the present applicant is identical to that of the said co-accused, further it is an organized crime, considering the nature and quantity of the seized narcotic substance, it would not be justified to grant bail to the applicant/accused. 7. Therefore, the bail application filed by the applicant/accused – Rajesh Sharma involved in Crime No.585/2024, registered at Police Station- Ratanpur, District- Bilaspur, (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 20(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short, the NDPS Act), is rejected at this stage. 4 8. Needless to say that the trial Court concerned, is at liberty to proceed and conclude the trial expeditiously. 9. Office is directed to provide a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Akhil