1 CGHC010330432026 2026:CGHC:38120 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 7892 of 2026 Shankar Mehar S/o Nityanand Mehar Aged About 30 Years Occupation Cloth Merchant, R/o Mundipadar Police Station - Bounsuni, District Badh (Odisha) ... Applicant Versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer Police Station Tamnar, District Raigarh Chhattisgarh ... Respondent(s) For Applicant : Mr. Harsh Tripathi, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Mr. Shailendra Sharma, P.L. HON'BLE SHRI RAMESH SINHA, CHIEF JUSTICE ORDER ON BOARD 25.08.2026 1. This is the 1st 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 SAURABH YADAV Digitally signed by SAURABH YADAV Date: 2026.08.25 16:16:10 +0530 2 Crime No. 78/2026 registered at Police Station – Tamnar, District- Raigarh (C.G.), for the offences under Sections 20 (B) and 29 of NDPS Act. 2. The facts of the case, in brief, are that on 19/04/2026, Shri S.D. Bhoy, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Station Tamnar, District Raigarh (C.G.), received information from an informant that two persons were travelling from Bilaimunda towards Dhorabantha in a white Swift car bearing registration No. OR15T7372 and were carrying a large quantity of cannabis (Ganja). Upon receiving the said information, he informed the Station House Officer over the telephone and thereafter, along with Head Constable No. 107, Constable Nos. 257, 225, 125, 882 and 757, and witnesses namely Aman Sidar and Manoj Sahu, proceeded towards Dhorabantha in a patrolling vehicle. They stopped the said vehicle on the main road in front of Munna Fabrication and found two persons sitting inside the car. Upon being asked about their names and addresses, they disclosed their identities as Sohan Lal Sidar, resident of Raypara, Police Station Tamnar, District Raigarh (C.G.), and Vinod Pradhan, resident of Samkera, Police Station Tamnar, District Raigarh (C.G.). Necessary panchnamas were prepared on the spot. After complying with the provisions of Section 50 of the 3 N.D.P.S. Act, 1985, the persons were searched, during which nine packets containing contraband, weighing approximately 60 kg and wrapped in brown plastic tape, were allegedly recovered from their possession. The contraband was seized and a seizure memo was prepared. Thereafter, Crime No. 0078/2026 was registered at Police Station Tamnar for the offences punishable under the provisions of the N.D.P.S. Act, 1985. The said persons were arrested in connection with Crime No. 0078/2026 on 19/04/2026. As regards the present applicant, he was arrested on 08/08/2026 and has been in custody since then. Hence, the present bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the Applicant submits that the Applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. He submits that the alleged contraband Ganja was not seized from the exclusive possession of the present Applicant and that the alleged recovery was made from the co-accused persons on 19/04/2026, whereas the present Applicant was arrested subsequently on 08/08/2026. He further submits that the charge-sheet has not been filed and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take considerable time. Therefore, considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the period of incarceration undergone by the Applicant, and the fact that no contraband was recovered from his exclusive possession, it is 4 prayed that the Applicant may kindly be enlarged on regular bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and submits that a huge quantity of contraband Ganja weighing approximately 60 kg was seized in connection with the present offence. It is further submitted that the Applicant is an accused in the present case involving commercial quantity of contraband and that one case of similar nature is also registered against him. Therefore, considering the nature and gravity of the offence, the quantity of contraband involved, learned State Counsel prays that the present bail application may kindly be rejected. 5. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the offence, and the allegation regarding the seizure of approximately 60 kg of contraband Ganja, which constitutes a huge commercial quantity, this Court is of the considered view that, at this stage, the Applicant does not deserve to be enlarged on bail. Accordingly, the bail application filed by the Applicant is hereby rejected. 6. Accordingly, the bail application of the applicant – Shankar Mehar involved in Crime No. 78/2026 registered at Police Station – Tamnar, District- Raigarh (C.G.), for the offences under Sections 20 (B) and 29 of NDPS Act is hereby 5 rejected. 7. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Saurabh