Synopsis

The applicant was arrested for transporting 180 bulk litres of foreign liquor (Goa Whisky) from Madhya Pradesh into Chhattisgarh without authorisation, in violation of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act. The offences were non-bailable with minimum punishment of one year and maximum three years under Section 34(2). The applicant had no criminal antecedents, the charge sheet had been filed, and he had been in jail for about four months (from 17.12.2025 to 27.04.2026). The High Court granted regular bail, considering that the trial would take time and the continued detention was not necessary. The court also imposed several conditions to ensure the applicant’s presence during trial, including that he shall not seek unnecessary adjournments and shall remain present on key dates.

Court: High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur

Coram: Hon’ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice

Date of Judgment: 27th April 2026

Citation: 2026:CGHC:19396 (MCRC No.1415 of 2026)

Core Law: Criminal Procedure – Bail under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 – Section 483 (corresponding to Section 439 CrPC); Chhattisgarh Excise Act, 1915 – Sections 34(2), 36, 59(A)

1.  Heading of the judgment

High court of chhattisgarh at bilaspur

Mcrc no.1415 of 2026

Satish kumar banothe (applicant) vs. State of chhattisgarh (non-applicant)

Coram: hon’ble shri ramesh sinha, chief justice

Date: 27th april, 2026

2. Legal framework

Major laws and provisions involved:

• Bharatiya nagarik suraksha sanhita (bnss), 2023 – section 483 (regular bail, corresponding to section 439 of crpc 1973)

• Chhattisgarh excise act, 1915 – section 34(2) (punishment for illegal possession/transport of liquor: minimum 1 year, maximum 3 years), section 36 (enhanced penalty for repeat offence), section 59(a) (general penalty provision)

• Bharatiya nyaya sanhita (bns), 2023 – sections 269, 351, 209 (referred in bail conditions)

Subject matter of the judgment:

Whether the applicant accused of transporting 180 bulk litres of foreign liquor without license should be granted regular bail under Section 483 BNSS, considering his clean antece

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