Bail granted on parity where liquor was recovered from the co-accused, not the applicant.

The applicant sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in a case registered under Section 34(2) of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act.

The prosecution alleged that he supplied 10.02 litres of liquor to a co-accused for sale; the liquor was recovered from the co-accused, not the applicant.

The applicant had been in custody since 28 July 2026.

The parties disputed the number of his Excise Act antecedents, and the co-accused from whose possession the liquor was seized had been granted bail.

Whether the applicant should be granted regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in light of the allegations, custody, antecedents, and bail granted to the co-accused.

Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, provides the basis for the High Court’s consideration of an application for regular bail.

The alleged offence was punishable under Section 34(2) of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act.

In deciding bail, the Court considered the nature and gravity of the allegations, the quantity involved, whether the liquor was recovered from the applicant, the period of custody, the co-accused’s bail, the applicant’s antecedents, and the likely time required to conclude the trial.

The Court weighed the allegation that the applicant supplied liquor for sale against the fact that the liquor was recovered from the co-accused rather than from the applicant’s physical possession.

It also considered the applicant’s custody since 28 July 2026, the co-accused’s release on bail, the applicant’s criminal antecedents, and the likelihood of delay in concluding the trial.

On the overall circumstances, and without expressing a view on the merits, the Court found bail justified.

It directed the applicant’s release upon furnishing a personal bond of ₹50,000 with one surety for the like amount, to the satisfaction of the trial Court.

Bail was subject to conditions prohibiting interference with witnesses or the fair trial and requiring the applicant to attend every hearing until the trial concludes.