Regular bail granted on grounds of parity, absence of criminal antecedents, and filing of charge-sheet.

The applicant was arrested in connection with Crime No. 49/2025 at Police Station Bacheli for allegedly failing to deposit stock shortage amounts (Rs. 92,09,370/-) and liquor sale proceeds (Rs. 60,38,404/-) into the government bank account.

The applicant was arrested on 28.11.2025 following a memorandum statement during the investigation.

Following the investigation, the prosecution filed the charge-sheet.

Whether the applicant is entitled to the grant of regular bail under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023, based on the principle of parity and the absence of criminal antecedents.

Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) regarding the grant of regular bail.

Substantive offenses were registered under Sections 316(5), 336(3), 3(5), 318, 338, 340, and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).

Procedural requirements under Sections 84, 209, 269, and 351 of the BNS/BNSS to be imposed as bail conditions.

The Court noted that the applicant had no recorded criminal antecedents.

It placed significant weight on the principle of parity, observing that a co-accused had already been granted bail by the Court on 29.01.2026 in MCRC No. 10419 of 2025, and the State did not dispute that the applicant’s case was similar.

The Court highlighted that the charge-sheet had already been filed and the applicant had been in custody since 28.11.2025.

Given the likely duration of the trial, the Court determined that continued pretrial detention was not warranted.

The holding was predicated on the lack of antecedents, the filing of the charge-sheet, and parity with the co-accused.

The release is subject to strict conditions, including an undertaking not to seek adjournments during evidence, mandatory personal appearance on specified trial stages, and warnings regarding proceedings under Section 209 of the BNS in the event of bail misuse.