Suraj Verma vs State Of Chhattisgarh

The applicant has preferred this first bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 13/2026 registered at Police Station Excise Circle, Seepat, District Bilaspur (C.G.), for the offences punishable under Sections 34(1) (a), 34(2) and 59-A of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act.

As per the prosecution case, on 14.08.2026, the Excise Circle, Seepat, received secret information that the applicant was in possession of illicit liquor. Acting upon the said information, the Excise team conducted a raid at the applicant's house and allegedly seized 150 litres of Deshi liquor from behind the house. On the basis of the said seizure, the aforesaid offences were registered against the applicant and he was arrested.

Learned counsel for the applicant would submit that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. He would further submit that the alleged liquor was not seized from the exclusive possession of the applicant but was found behind his house and had been placed there by some other person. It is further submitted that the charge-sheet has already been filed before the competent Court, the applicant has no criminal antecedents and he has been in jail since 14.08.2026 and conclusion of the trial is likely to take considerable time. Therefore, he prays for grant of regular bail to the applicant.

On the other hand, learned State counsel would oppose the prayer for grant of bail and submit that the charge-sheet has already been filed before the competent Court and the applicant has one criminal antecedent of a similar nature pertaining to the year 2025, which has not been explained in Part-D of the bail application. She would also submit that 150 litres of deshi liquor was seized in the present case and looking to the quantity of liquor seized and the criminal antecedent of the applicant, he is not entitled to be released on bail.

I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary.

Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of the allegations alleged against the applicant, the criminal antecedents of the applicant, the quantity of liquor seized from his possession, the fact that the charge-sheet has already been filed before the competent Court, the period of incarceration since 14.08.2026 and the fact that conclusion of the trial is likely to take some time, I am inclined to grant regular bail to the applicant.

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:-