1 CGHC010394952026 2026:CGHC:43590 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 9473 of 2026 1 - Puniram Patel @ Raj S/o Bhagar Ram Patel Aged About 42 Years R/o Village Maldi, Ward No. 6, Police Station Bilaigarh, District- Sarangarh- Bilaigarh(C.G.) Temporary Resident Of Shivrinarayan Kharod Road, Police Station- Shivrinarayan District Janjgir- Champa (C.G.) ... Applicant versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station- Baramkela, District- Sarangarh- Bilaigarh (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Dhirendra Prasad Mishra, Advocate For Non-applicant : Mr. Vivek Sharma, PL Hon’ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey Order On Boar d 08.10.2026 1) The applicant has preferred this third Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNSS'), for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No.05/2026 registered at Police Station Baremkela, District Sarangarh-Bilaigarh (C.G.), for the offence under Section 20(B) of NDPS Act. Earlier, two bail applications filed by the applicant were REKHA SINGH Digitally signed by REKHA SINGH DN: cn=REKHA SINGH, ou=HIGH COURT, o=HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, st=Chhattisgarh, c=IN Date: 2026.10.08 14:21:11 +0530 2 rejected on merits in MCRC No. 7225 of 2026 vide order dated 07.08.2026 and MCRC No. 7541 of 2026 vide order dated 14.08.2026. 2) As per the prosecution story, in brief, on 15.01.2026, during vehicle checking near Chatipali Chowk, Police Station Barmkela, the police intercepted a Maruti Swift car bearing registration No. CG-04LL-3040. The driver, allegedly identified as the present applicant, attempted to flee but was apprehended. Upon search of the vehicle, 70 packets containing 72 kilograms 130 grams of ganja were allegedly recovered. Thereafter, the applicant was arrested in connection with the afore- stated offence. Hence, the present bail application. 3) Learned counsel for the applicant submits that he is innocent and has falsely been implicated in the present case. It is also submitted that two earlier bail applications filed by the applicant were rejected on merits in MCRC No. 7225 of 2026 vide order dated 07.08.2026 and MCRC No. 7541 of 2026 vide order dated 14.08.2026. He would further contend that the applicant is in jail since15.01.2026, the charge-sheet has been filed, and the trial is likely to take some time. Therefore, he prays for grant of bail. 4) On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and submits that a total quantity of 72.130 kg. of ganja has been seized from the possession of the applicant. He would further submit that the earlier two bail applications of the applicant were rejected on merits and there is no substantial change in circumstances warranting reconsideration of the prayer for bail. Therefore, the applicant is not entitled to be enlarged on bail. 3 5) I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6) Having considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, the material available on record, the nature and gravity of the allegations and the role attributed to the applicant, it appears that a total quantity of 72.130 kg. of ganja has been seized from the possession of the applicant. The quantity of contraband allegedly seized is substantial in nature. It is further relevant to note that the earlier two bail applications preferred by the applicant were rejected on merits by this Court. Thereafter, no substantial change in circumstances has been brought on record which may warrant reconsideration of the prayer for grant of bail. The grounds urged in the present application do not demonstrate any such change in circumstances so as to take a different view from the one already taken by this Court while rejecting the earlier bail applications. 7) In view of the nature and gravity of the allegations, the substantial quantity of contraband allegedly seized from the possession of the applicant, and the fact that the earlier two bail applications were rejected on merits without there being any substantial change in circumstances, I am not inclined to grant bail to the applicant. Accordingly, the bail application is rejected. Sd/- (Rakesh Mohan Pandey) JUDGE Rekha