1 CGHC010291912026 2026:CGHC:32936 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR M.Cr.C No.6922 of 2026 Santram Khunte S/o Anand Ram Khunte, Aged About 36 Years R/o Village Sothi, Police Station- Sakti, District Sakti (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station - Jutemill, District Raigarh (C.G.) ... Non-applicant _____________________________________________________ For Applicant :Mr. Dhirendra Prasad Mishra, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State:Ms. Palak Dwivedi, PL. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 30.07.2026 1. The Applicant has preferred this 1st Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No.381/2024 registered at Police SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Digitally signed by SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Date: 2026.07.31 16:10:11 +0530 2 Station Jutemill, Raigarh (C.G.), for the offence under Section 20(b) of the NDPS. 2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that on the basis of secret information, Inspector Mohan Bhardwaj of Police Station Jutmil conducted a raid on 28.08.2024 near Kodatarai Airstrip, Police Station Jutmil, District Raigarh, where 175 kilograms of contraband ganja was allegedly found being transported for sale in a white coloured Alto car bearing registration No. CG-13/AS-6967 and Tata Ace Gold vehicle bearing registration No. CG-13/AM-2987. The contraband was seized in accordance with law in the presence of witnesses. During investigation, on the basis of the memorandum statement of the present Applicant, involvement of other accused persons, namely Bhagwat Sahu, Deepak @ Nanu Bhardwaj, Byomkesh @ Byoma and Kishore Sahu, in the alleged ganja trafficking was revealed. Accordingly, two vehicles, six mobile phones and cash amount were seized, therefore, offence as mentioned above has been registered against the present Applicant. Hence this application. 3. Learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that the Applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is contended that co-accused Vyomesh Khatua has 3 been granted bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 17.11.2025 passed in S.L.P. (Crl.) No.14183/2025. It is further submitted that co-accused Bhagwat Sahu and Kishore Sahu have also been enlarged on bail by this Court vide orders dated 03.12.2025 passed in M.Cr.C. Nos.9791/2025 and 9864/2025, respectively. It is also submitted that co- accused Mahendra Tandan and Ankit Singh have been enlarged on bail vide orders dated 08.07.2026 passed in M.Cr.C. No.6023/2026 and 22.07.2026 passed in M.Cr.C. No.6576/2026, respectively. It is lastly submitted that the Applicant is in judicial custody since 28.08.2024 and as the trial is likely to take considerable time for its conclusion, he may be enlarged on regular bail on the ground of parity. 4. Per contra, learned State Counsel opposes the application. However, she fairly submits that there are no previous criminal antecedents against the present Applicant. 5. Considering the submissions advanced by learned Counsel for the parties, perusal of the case diary, the nature of allegations, the fact that the Applicant is in judicial custody since 28.08.2024, the fact that co-accused Vyomesh Khatua has been granted bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 17.11.2025 passed in S.L.P. (Crl.) No.14183/2025 and other co-accused persons, namely 4 Bhagwat Sahu, Kishore Sahu, Mahendra Tandan and Ankit Singh, have also been enlarged on bail by this Court vide orders dated 03.12.2025 passed in M.Cr.C. Nos.9791/2025 and 9864/2025, 08.07.2026 passed in M.Cr.C. No.6023/2026 and 22.07.2026 passed in M.Cr.C. No.6576/2026 respectively, the principle of parity being applicable and further considering that the trial is likely to take considerable time for its conclusion, without further commenting anything on the merits of the case, this Court is of the considered opinion that it is a fit case to allow the application. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed. 6. Let Applicant-Santram Khunte involved in Crime No.381/2024 registered at Police Station Jutemill, Raigarh (C.G.), for the offence under Section 20(b) of the NDPS 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/s shall file an undertaking to the effect that he/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 applicant/s shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either 5 personally or through his/their counsel. In case of his/their absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him/them under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicant/s misuse/s the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his/their presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicant/s fail/s to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him/them, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicant/s 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 applicant/s is 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/them in accordance with law. 7. 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 Priya