Facts
The applicant, owner of "Deepak Transport," was arrested on 31.12.2025 following a raid by the Excise Circle Flying Squad at a rented premises in Manikprakashpur
Source reference: para. 2The prosecution alleged the recovery of 300 boxes containing 14,400 quarters (2,592 litres) of unauthorized foreign liquor from Haryana
Source reference: para. 2The applicant sought regular bail, contending he was falsely implicated, that mandatory videography provisions under the BNSS were violated during search and seizure, and that no documentary evidence linked him to the premises
Source reference: para. 3The State opposed bail, citing a criminal antecedent from 2024 and the large quantity of contraband seized
Source reference: para. 4Issues
1. Whether the applicant is entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the BNSS considering the filing of the charge sheet and the duration of his pretrial detention.
Source reference: para. 1, 6Law Applied
Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, regarding the power of the High Court to grant bail
Source reference: para. 1Sections 34(1)A, 34(2), 36, and 59A of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act
Source reference: para. 1Section 269 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) regarding non-attendance in obedience to an order from a public servant
Source reference: para. 7(ii)Section 84 of the BNSS regarding the proclamation for person absconding
Source reference: para. 7(iii)Reasoning
The Court balanced the gravity of the allegations—specifically the illegal storage of 2,592 litres of foreign liquor—against the procedural status of the case
Source reference: para. 6It noted that the investigation had concluded and the charge sheet had already been filed before the competent court
Source reference: para. 4, 6The Court took significant note of the applicant’s period of incarceration since 31.12.2025 and the likelihood that the trial would not conclude in the immediate future
Source reference: para. 6Despite the State’s objection regarding one prior criminal antecedent, the Court determined that continued detention was not warranted provided stringent conditions were imposed to ensure the applicant’s participation in the trial
Source reference: para. 6, 7Holding
The Court allowed the bail application, directing the release of the applicant upon furnishing a personal bond with two sureties
The holding clarified that while the allegations were serious, the filing of the charge sheet and the duration of detention justified bail
Source reference: para. 6The relief was granted subject to conditions: the applicant must not seek unnecessary adjournments, must appear personally for charges and statements under Section 351 BNSS, and must comply with all trial proceedings or face action under Section 209 of the BNS
Source reference: para. 7(i), 7(iv), 7(iii)Original Court PDF
SOURABH SINGHvsSTATE OF CHHATTISGARH
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