1 CGHC010388162026 2026:CGHC:43468 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 9428 of 2026 1 - Atul Soni S/o Vijay Soni, Aged About 30 Years R/o Budha Mahadeo, Ratanpur, Police Station Ratanpur, District, Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Applicant(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Ratanpur, District Bilaspur (C.G.) ...Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Aman Tamboli, 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. 589/2026, registered at Police Station Ratanpur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh for the offence punishable under Section 34(2) of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act. 2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the officers of Police Station concerned received a secret information from the informant and on the basis of the said information conducted a raid and seized 150 bulk liters of country made liquor from the possession of the applicant, thereafter, Police has registered an aforesaid offence against the present applicant. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the applicant would submit that the Digitally signed by JYOTI JHA Date: 2026.10.08 11:07:45 +0530 2 applicant has falsely been implicated in the present case and he is innocent. The applicant has one criminal antecedent under Section Chhattisgarh Excise Act. He further submits that co-accused, namely, Kunal Sahu has been granted bail by this Court in MCRC No. 8732/2026 vide order dated 30.09.2026. Learned counsel would further submit that the applicant is in jail since 22.08.2026, 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 applicant has one criminal antecedents of similar nature. He would further submit that 150 bulk liters of country made liquor was seized from the possession of the present applicant, 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, the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the applicant, and considering the fact that the applicant has one criminal antecedent of similar nature, the quantity of liquor seized, and the co-accused has already been granted bail vide order dated 30.09.2026 in MCRC No. 8732/2026, further considering the fact that the applicant is in jail since 22.08.2026, and the trial is likely to take some time to conclude, this Court is inclined to grant regular bail to the applicant. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed. 7. It is directed that in the event of the applicant executing a personal bond 3 for a sum of Rs.50,000/- with one 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