1 2026:CGHC:18152 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 3611 of 2026 Ravishankar Markam S/o. Shri Santram Markam Aged About 29 Years R/o. Mana Camp, Near Meena Bhawan, Vivekanand Nagar, Police Station- Mana, District- Raipur Chhattisgarh. ... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Station House Officer, Police Station Civil Lines, District- Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Prabhat Kumar Saxena, Advocate. For Respondent(s) : Mr. Saumya Rai, Deputy Government Advocate. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 21/04/2026 1. This is the second bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 1004/2024 registered at Police Station Civil Lines, District- AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN Digitally signed by AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN 2 Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 21, 22 of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1985. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 21.10.2024, acting on secret information, the police authorities apprehended co-accused Shrishti Kurrey and recovered from her possession a scooty (Activa bearing registration No. C.G.-10-BQ-1687) along with 150 ampules of Buprenorphine injection (Rexogesic), each containing 2 ml, totaling 300 ml (300 mg). Based on the said recovery, an offence was registered at Police Station Civil Lines, Bilaspur (C.G.) on 22.10.2024 against co-accused Shrishti Kurrey and Godawri Bai. During investigation, on the basis of the memorandum statement of co-accused Shrishti Kurrey, the name of another co-accused, Vikrant Sarkar, surfaced as the supplier of the said narcotic substance. Pursuant thereto, the police arrested Vikrant Sarkar on 24.10.2024, from whose possession a huge quantity of narcotic drugs, namely Tramadol (22,752 tablets) and Buprenorphine (4,000 ampules), was seized. It is further alleged that the present applicant was involved in supplying the alleged contraband substances. Consequently, the applicant was arrested, and Crime No. 1004/2024 was registered at Police Station Civil Lines, Bilaspur (C.G.) against the present applicant and eight other co-accused persons for offences punishable under Sections 21 and 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. 3 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the first bail application of the applicant was rejected by this Court vide order dated 03.01.2025, passed in MCRC No.8812 of 2024, thereafter, the applicant preferred present second bail application on the ground that co-accused, namely, Naveen Idwani has been granted bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 19.01.2026 passed in Criminal Appeal No.332 of 2026 arising out of SLP (Crl.) No.19712 of 2025, and thereafter, one co-accused, Sandeep Kumar Chhabda @ Suchcha Singh, who has 11 criminal antecedents has been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 01.04.2026 passed in MCRC No.01.04.2026, further the applicant has no criminal antecedent, hence the case of present applicant is better than that of the co-accused, Sandeep.The applicant is in jail since 24.10.2024, hence, he prays for releasing the applicant on regular bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case. He further submits that the applicant is involved in the illegal supply of narcotic substances, particularly Buprenorphine and Tramadol. His name surfaced during investigation on the basis of the memorandum statement of co- accused, wherein he was stated to be part of the supply chain. The prosecution alleges that the applicant was engaged in procuring and distributing the contraband substances, in connection with which he has been implicated and arrested in the 4 present case, but could not dispute the fact that co-accused, namely, Naveen Idwani has been granted bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 19.01.2026 passed in Criminal Appeal No.332 of 2026 arising out of SLP (Crl.) No.19712 of 2025, and thereafter, one co-accused, Sandeep Kumar Chhabda @ Suchcha Singh, who has 11 criminal antecedents has been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 01.04.2026 passed in MCRC No.01.04.2026. 5. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. From perusal of the records, it transpires that this is the second bail application of the applicant and first bail application of the applicant was rejected by this Court vide order dated 03.01.2025 passed in MCRC No. 8812 of 2024 on the ground that a huge commercial quantity of narcotic substances (Buprenorphine injections and Tramadol capsules) was seized from the co- accused, and the applicant is alleged to be part of the supply chain, but considering the fact that co-accused, namely, Naveen Idwani has been granted bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 19.01.2026 passed in Criminal Appeal No.332 of 2026 arising out of SLP (Crl.) No.19712 of 2025, and thereafter, one co-accused, Sandeep Kumar Chhabda @ Suchcha Singh, who has 11 criminal antecedents has been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 01.04.2026 passed in MCRC 5 No.01.04.2026, further the applicant has no criminal antecedent, as such, the case of present applicant is better than that of the co- accused, Sandeep, the charge-sheet has been filed, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case. 7. Accordingly, the application is allowed. 8. Let the Applicant-Ravishankar Markam, involved in Crime No. 1004/2024 registered at Police Station Civil Lines, District- Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 21, 22 of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1985, be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond with two sureties in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law. (ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued 6 and the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 351 of BNSS. If in the opinion of the trial court absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against him in accordance with law. 9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Akhil