Chhattisgarh HC Grants Bail To Man Accused Of Storing 162 Litres Of MP-Made Liquor At Co-Accused’s Home

The applicant was arrested in connection with an offence under Sections 34(1)(A), 34(2), 36 and 59(A) of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act.

The prosecution alleged that 162 litres of whisky manufactured in Madhya Pradesh had been stored at the applicant’s instance at a co-accused’s house, where the liquor was seized.

No recovery was made from the applicant himself.

After the charge-sheet was filed, he sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

He had been in judicial custody since 5 August 2026, and the co-accused had been granted bail.

The applicant also had three antecedents, all of which had been disposed of.

The application was made under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which provides for consideration of regular bail by the High Court or Court of Session.

The alleged offences were under Sections 34(1)(A), 34(2), 36 and 59(A) of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act.

The Court stated no specific precedent or further bail doctrine; it assessed the nature and gravity of the allegations, the case circumstances, the applicant’s antecedents, the status of the investigation and custody, and the co-accused’s bail.

The Court considered that the liquor was seized from the co-accused’s house, not from the applicant’s possession; the charge-sheet had been filed; and the applicant had remained in judicial custody since 5 August 2026.

It also noted that all three antecedent cases had been disposed of and that the co-accused had already been granted bail.

On those circumstances, the Court found the applicant suitable for bail, without expressing any view on the merits of the case.

Bail was subject to conditions prohibiting interference with witnesses or the fair and expeditious trial, and requiring the applicant to attend every trial-court hearing until the trial’s disposal.