1 CGHC010348442026 2026:CGHC:43459 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 8552 of 2026 1 - Manish Gupta Son Of Gangasagar, Gupta Aged About 21 Years Resident Of Bektikas, P. S. Maharaja Ganj District Mangalpur U. P. At Present Address Samarwani P. S. Silwasa, District Dadranagar, Heweli Gujrat ... Applicant(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Polcie Station Pandri, Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.) -- Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Rekhraj Baghel Advocate For Non-applicant : Mr. Keshav Gupta, G.A. Hon’ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey Order on Board 07/10/2026 1. The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 174/2026, registered at Police Station Pandri, Raipur District Raipur Chhattisgarh for the offence punishable under Sections 20(B) of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act. 2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the officers of Police Station Pandri, Raipur District Raipur Chhattisgarh, received a secret information from the informant and on the basis of the said information conducted a raid and seized 7.330 Kg of Ganja from the possession of the applicant, Digitally signed by JYOTI JHA Date: 2026.10.08 11:07:44 +0530 2 thereafter, Police has registered an aforesaid offence against the present applicant. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the applicant would submit that the applicant has falsely been implicated in the present case and he is innocent. He would further submit that the applicant has one criminal antecedent under Section 125(4) and 281 of BNS. Learned counsel would further submit that the applicant is in jail since 20.06.2026, the charge-sheet has already been filed, and the trial is likely to take considerable time to conclude; thus, he would pray that the applicant may be enlarged on regular bail. 4. On the other hand, the learned State counsel would oppose the bail application and submit that the charge-sheet has already been filed before the competent Court. He would further submit that 7.330 Kg of Ganja was seized from the possession of the present applicant and he is having one criminal antecedent under Sections 125(4) and 281 of BNS, therefore, he is not entitled to grant of regular bail. 5. I have heard the 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 (7.330 kg of Ganja) is of intermediate quantity, which is below commercial quantity; further charge-sheet has already been filed, the applicant has one previous criminal antecedent under Section 125(4) and 281 of BNS, he is in judicial custody since 20.06.2026, and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take some time, this Court is inclined to enlarge the applicant on 3 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 local surety in the like sum to 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. 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/- Rakesh Mohan Pandey JUDGE Jyoti