1 CGHC010332642026 2026:CGHC:38326 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 7931 of 2026 1. Sheetal Prakash Pathak S/o Shri Santosh Kumar Pathak Aged About 28 Years R/o Village- Medki P/S- Mauranipur Distt- Jhansi U.P. 2. Kallu Kenwat S/o Shri Dhruvram Kenwat Aged About 26 Years R/o Azadpura P/S- Katni Distt- Katni M.P. ... Applicants versus State of Chhattisgarh Through- P/S Sariya Distt- Sarangarh-Bilaigarh C.G. ... Non-applicant For Applicants : Mr. Ajay Kumar Mishra, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Ms. Smriti Shrivastava, Panel Lawyer. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 31.08.2026 1. The applicants have preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in connection with Crime No.10/2026, registered at Police Station: Sariya, District- Sarangarh-Bilaigarh (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Section 20(B) and 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, for short, the NDPS Act. 2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that on 12.01.2026 at about 19:40 hours, the Police Station Sariya received secret information from an informant that a blue-coloured Maruti car bearing registration No. WB06 F PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2026.09.01 12:45:15 +0530 2 4202, travelling from Odisha towards Katni (M.P.) via Raigarh and Bilaspur, was carrying contraband. Acting upon the said information, the police intercepted the vehicle and questioned the applicants regarding their whereabouts. As their activities appeared suspicious and gave rise to an apprehension of illegal transportation of contraband, the police issued a notice for conducting a search of the vehicle. During the search, approximately 25 packets wrapped in sky-blue-coloured cloth were allegedly found in the rear portion of the vehicle. The police seized the contraband, weighing a total of 26.155 Kgs., allegedly from the joint possession of the applicants, with an estimated value of Rs.2,50,000/-. Thereafter, the applicants were arrested. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that the applicants have no previous criminal antecedents, the charge-sheet has already been filed, and they have been in judicial custody since 13.01.2026. Since the conclusion of the trial is likely to take considerable time, learned counsel prays that the applicant be enlarged on regular bail. 4. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State opposes the prayer for grant of bail and submits that the charge-sheet has already been filed. He further submits that a total quantity of 26.155 Kgs of Ganja, which is much above the commercial quantity, was seized from the possession of the applicants. Therefore, considering the gravity of the offence and the material available on record, the present applicants are not entitled to be released on bail. Hence, the bail application deserves to be dismissed. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 3 6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, particularly the fact that 26.155 Kgs of Ganja, which is much above the commercial quantity, was allegedly seized from the possession of the applicants that the applicants have failed to furnish any plausible explanation in support of his plea of false implication, and that the charge-sheet has already been filed and the trial is in progress, this Court is not inclined to extend the benefit of bail to the applicants at this stage. Accordingly, the present bail application deserves to be and is hereby rejected. 7. Accordingly, the bail application of applicant Nos. 1 and 2 – Sheetal Prakash Pathak and Kallu Kenwat, respectively involved in Crime No.10/2026, registered at Police Station: Sariya, District- Sarangarh-Bilaigarh (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Section 20(B) and 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, for short, the NDPS Act, is rejected. 8. Needless to say that the trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed and conclude the trial expeditiously. 9. The Office is directed to provide a certified copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Preeti