BAIL GRANTED: APPLICANT RELEASED ON BAIL CONSIDERING CO-ACCUSED'S ANTICIPATORY BAIL AND DETENTION PERIOD.

The applicant, Abdul Sattar, was arrested in connection with Crime No. 32/2026 for an offence punishable under Section 3(7) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

The prosecution alleged that on January 10, 2026, information was received via the Satark App regarding fraudulent transportation of paddy by rice millers, showing weights exceeding 200% of vehicle capacity.

An investigation of Upleta Rice Mill and National Dal Mill (MA639750) found 1536 bags of FRK Rice (approximately 460.80 quintal, amounting to Rs. 19,35,360) in the applicant's possession without authorization, which was distributed by the government under the PDS Scheme and violated Clause 5.29 of Chhattisgarh Sarvjanik Vitran Pranali Niyantran, 2016.

The applicant contended that the seized FRK rice was rejected by the Chhattisgarh Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. on March 24, 2025, and July 18, 2025, for failing to meet quality standards.

A lab report dated January 16, 2026, corroborated this, finding the rice to be sub-standard.

Co-accused Abdul Samad had been granted anticipatory bail by the High Court in MCRCA No. 230/2026 on March 2, 2026.

The applicant had no criminal antecedents and had been in custody since January 20, 2026.

1. Whether the applicant, Abdul Sattar, is entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for the offence punishable under Section 3(7) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

The court primarily applied Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which pertains to the grant of regular bail.

It also considered the broader principles governing bail applications, where factors such as parity with co-accused, period of detention, and the likely time for trial conclusion are relevant considerations.

The court considered the applicant's submission that the seized FRK rice was rejected sub-standard rice, a claim supported by a lab report dated January 16, 2026.

Crucially, the court noted that co-accused Abdul Samad had already been granted anticipatory bail on March 2, 2026.

Further, the applicant had been in custody since January 20, 2026, and the trial was anticipated to take a considerable amount of time to conclude.

The learned State Counsel did not dispute the fact of the co-accused's anticipatory bail.

Considering these circumstances, particularly the parity with the co-accused and the applicant's period of detention, the court found grounds to grant bail without commenting on the merits of the case.

Abdul Sattar was directed to be released on bail for Crime No. 32/2026, associated with Police Station Mungeli, District Mungeli, Chhattisgarh, concerning the offence punishable under Section 3(7) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

This was conditioned upon furnishing a personal bond with two sureties of a like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned court, along with specified conditions regarding non-adjournment, presence in court, and not misusing liberty of bail.