Order on Board

1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular bail to the applicants who have been arrested in connection with Crime No. 263/2025 registered at Police Station Jashpur, District Jashpur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 34(1) and 34(2) of the C.G. Excise Act .

2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 07.10.2025, acting upon information received from the CID, the police of Police Station Jashpur intercepted a vehicle bearing registration No. RJ-09-GE-0124 and recovered a huge quantity of illicit liquor from its possession. During the search, 2478 bottles of 750 ml, 1332 bottles of 375 ml, and 576 bottles of 180 ml liquor, total 2,461.68 bulk liters of liquor were allegedly seized, having an approximate total value of Rs. 22,22,168/-. On the basis of the said recovery, an FIR was registered against the applicant for the offences punishable under Sections 34(1) and 34(2) of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act, and the applicant was arrested on 07.10.2025. Hence, the bail application.

3. Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants have been falsely implicated in this case and 2,461.68 bulk liters of liquor were not seized from the exclusive possession of the applicant. He further submits that under Section 34(2) of the C.G. Excise Act , minimum punishment is one year and maximum punishment is three years. He also submits that the applicants have no criminal antecedent, the applicants are in jail since 07.10.2025 and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take quite long time. Therefore, he prays for grant of regular bail to the applicants.

4. Learned counsel for the State/non-applicant would oppose the bail application and submit that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case before the competent Court and total 2,461.68 bulk liters of illicit liquor were recovered from the joint possession of the applicants. He further submits that though on the last date of hearing i.e. 15.06.2026, the learned State counsel had submitted that applicant No. 2, Jagdeep Singh, has 19 criminal antecedents, pursuant to the order of this Court, the concerned Superintendent of Police has filed an affidavit clarifying that the said criminal antecedents do not pertain to applicant No. 2, further as per information received from the State of Punjab, there is one previous criminal antecedent of applicant No.1, Ranvir Singh.

5. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary.

6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of allegation levelled against the applicants and the fact that the applicant No.2 has no criminal antecedent and applicant No.1 has only one criminal antecedent in the State of Punjab, further the applicants are in jail since 07.10.2025 and the charge-sheet has been filed, the conclusion of the trial may take some more time, as such, this Court is of the view that the applicants are entitled to be released on bail in this case.

7. Accordingly, the application is allowed.

8. Let the applicants - Ranvir Singh and Jagdeep Singh, involved in Crime No. 263/2025 registered at Police Station Jashpur, District Jashpur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 34(1) and 34(2) of the C.G. Excise Act , be released on bail on their furnishing a personal bond with two sureties each in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court