Chhattisgarh HC Grants Bail To Liquor-Shop Security Guard In 458-Litre Seizure Case, Citing No Recovery From Him And Bail To Co-Accused

The applicant, a security guard at a government liquor shop in Balod, was implicated after police seized 457.920 bulk litres of liquor from co-accused persons’ houses.

The applicant was not alleged to have had liquor recovered from him; the prosecution case against him arose from the allegation that the liquor had been sold by employees of the shop after closing hours.

The charge-sheet had been filed, and the applicant had been in judicial custody since 11 August 2026.

He sought regular bail, relying also on bail granted to similarly situated co-accused; the State opposed the application on the seriousness of the allegations.

Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, provides the basis for the application for regular bail.

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

The Court applied its bail discretion after considering the nature and gravity of the alleged offence, the role attributed to the applicant, the recovery circumstances, parity, criminal antecedents, custody, and the stage of the proceedings.

The order cites no precedent.

The Court considered that the liquor had been seized from co-accused persons, not the applicant, and that the applicant’s alleged connection was his employment as a security guard at the shop from which the liquor was said to have been sold.

It also noted that similarly situated co-accused had been granted bail, the applicant had no criminal antecedents, the charge-sheet had been filed, and he had been in judicial custody since 11 August 2026.

On those circumstances, the Court found it appropriate to grant bail without expressing any view on the merits.

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

Bail was subject to conditions prohibiting interference with witnesses or the fair trial and requiring attendance at every hearing until disposal of the trial.