The High Court of Chhattisgarh allowed a bail application filed by the applicant arrested for offences under the C.G. Excise Act. Despite having a criminal antecedent and large quantity of liquor seized, the court granted bail subject to a personal bond.
Granted regular bail on execution of a personal bond of Rs.50,000/- along with one surety.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
1
CGHC010343632026 2026:CGHC:40357
NAFR
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
MCRC No. 8583 of 2026
KUNAL DEWANGAN
Digitally signed by KUNAL DEWANGAN
Sandeep Sonwani S/o Hariyali Sonwani Aged About 19 Years R/o Satnami Chowk Risda, Police Station Balodabazar, District BalodabazarBhatapara Chhattisgarh
... Applicant(s)
versus
State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Of Police Station City Kotwali Balodabazar, District Balodabazar-Bhatapara Chhattisgarh
... Non-Applicant(s)
For Applicant : Mr. Sunil Verma, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Mr. Sourabh Sahu, Panel Lawyer
Hon'ble Mr. Rakesh Mohan Pandey, Judge
Order on Board
16/09/2026
1. The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 613/2026, registered at Police Station : City Kotwali DistrictBalodabazar-Bhatapara (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Section 34(2) of the C.G. Excise Act.
2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the Police of Police
2
Station City Kotwali, District- Balodabazar-Bhatapara (C.G.), received a secret information from the informant and on the basis of the said information conducted raid and have seized total 8.100 bulk liters of country made liquor from the vehicle of the applicant. Thereafter, Police has registered an offence punishable under Section 34(2) of the C.G. Excise Act against the present applicant.
3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in this case and that the alleged liquor was not seized from the conclusive possession of the applicant. He further submits that, in the present case, the charge-sheet has been filed before the competent Court and the applicant has only one criminal antecedent under the Excise Act of the year 2026, which is still pending and he is in jail since 19.07.2026 and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take considerable time. Therefore, he prays for grant of regular bail to the applicant.
4. On the other hand, the learned State counsel opposes the prayer for grant of bail to the applicant and submits that in the present case, charge-sheet has been filed before the competent Court and the applicant has a previous criminal antecedent of similar nature, is still pending. He further submits that from the possession of the present applicant, 8.100 bulk liters of country made liquor was seized and as such he is a habitual offender therefore, he is not entitled for grant of bail.
5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the casediary.
6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case,
3
nature and gravity of the allegations alleged against the applicant, the criminal antecedent of the applicant, the quantity of liquor seized from his possession, the fact that the charge-sheet has been filed before the competent Court, the period of incarceration since 19.07.2026 and the fact that the conclusion of the trial is likely to take some time, I am inclined to grant regular bail to the applicant
7. Accordingly, the bail application of the applicant is allowed . It is directed that in the event of the applicant executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:-
(i) he shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such fact to the Court; (ii) he shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial, &
(iii) he shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial.
8. Ofce is directed to send a certif fi ed copy of this order to the trial i Court for necessary information and compliance. dorthwith.
S/Sd/- (Rakesh Mohan Pandey) Judge
Kunal
1 issue framed by the court
Whether the applicant is entitled to a regular bail in the pending excise offence.
2 provisions across 2 enactments
Kunal Dewangan
State Of Chhattisgarh
Rakesh Mohan Pandey
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
