1 CGHC010355722026 2026:CGHC:41414 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 8479 of 2026 1 - Guman Mandle S/o Lakhan Mandle Aged About 22 Years R/o Village Sankara, Police Station - Tilda Nevra, District Raipur Chhattisgarh ... Applicant versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station - Tilda Nevra, District Raipur Chhattisgarh ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Dhirendra Prasad Mishra, Advocate For Non-applicant /State : Ms. Smriti Shrivastava, P.L. Hon’ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey Order on Board 23/09/2026 1. The applicant has preferred this first bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for HARNEET KAUR Digitally signed by HARNEET KAUR Date: 2026.09.24 11:36:13 +0530 2 grant of regular bail as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 147/2026 registered at Police Station Tilda - Nevra, District Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Section 20(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (hereinafter, “NDPS Act”). 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 08/04/2026, the police conducted a raid on account of information received from an informer and seized 8.500 kgs of Ganja in total from the exclusive possession of the present applicant. Thereafter, the police registered an FIR against the applicant and he was arrested on the same day. 3. Mr. Dhirendra Prasad Mishra, learned counsel appearing for the applicant, would submit that the applicant is innocent and has falsely been implicated in the present case. He would further submit that the seized contraband article, i.e., 8.500 kg of Ganja, is of intermediate quantity (less than commercial quantity), hence the rigours of Section 37 of the NDPS Act would not apply to the applicant's case. He would also submit that the applicant has only one criminal antecedent registered under Section 392 of IPC pertaining to the year 2022 in which the applicant is on bail and trial is pending before the trial Court. He would lastly contend that the charge-sheet has already been filed and the applicant has been in judicial custody since 08/04/2026, and since the 3 conclusion of the trial is likely to take considerable time, the applicant may be enlarged on regular bail. 4. On the other hand, Ms. Smriti Shrivastava, learned counsel appearing for the non-applicant/State, would oppose the bail application and submit that intermediate quantity of contraband Ganja was recovered from the exclusive possession of the applicant, and he also has one criminal antecedent; thus, he is not entitled to be released on regular bail. However, she admits that the charge-sheet has already been filed before the competent Court and that the previous antecedent does not pertain to the NDPS Act. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, particularly that the seized contraband article (8.500 kgs of Ganja) is of intermediate quantity, which is below commercial quantity; further considering that charge-sheet has already been filed, the applicant has no criminal antecedent of similar nature under the NDPS Act, he is in judicial custody since 08/04/2026, and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take some time, this Court is inclined to enlarge the applicant on regular bail. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed. 7. It is directed that in the event of the applicant executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/- with one surety in the like sum to 4 the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court, he shall be released on bail, on following conditions :- (i) he shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such fact to the Court, (ii) he shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial, and (iii) he shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial. 8. The observation made hereinabove is for the purpose of deciding this bail application only, the trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits. Sd/-d/- (Rakesh Mohan Pandey) JUDGE Harneet