Lalit Matari @ Jitu Matari v. State of Chhattisgarh

Order On Board

16.10.2026 1) The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, he has been arrested in connection with Crime No.48/2026 registered at Police Station Balouda, Mahasamund (C.G.) for the offence under Section 34(2) of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act. 2) Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that police of Police Station Balouda, Mahasamund has received a secret information from the informant and on the basis of said information, raid was conducted and seized 170 bulk litre of country-made liquor from the possession of the REKHA SINGH DN: cn=REKHA SINGH, ou=HIGH COURT, o=HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, st=Chhattisgarh, c=IN Date: 2026.10.16 14:38:51 +0530 present applicant. Thereafter, the aforesaid case was registered against the present applicant. 3) Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the present applicant has falsely been implicated in the case and the alleged 170 bulk litre of country-made liquor was not seized from the exclusive possession of the applicant. It is further argued that though the applicant has four criminal antecedents but three cases have already been disposed of, while one case registered under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code in the year 2022 is still pending consideration. At present, no similar criminal case is pending against the present applicant. He would contend that the applicant is in jail since 15.09.2026; the charge-sheet has already been filed; and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take a considerable period of time. Therefore, he prays for grant of regular bail to the applicant. 4) On the other hand, the learned State counsel would oppose the bail application and submit that the charge-sheet has already been filed before the competent Court. She would further submit that 170 bulk litre of country-made liquor was seized from the possession of the present applicant; therefore, he is not entitled to the grant of regular bail. 5) I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 6) Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the offence, the fact that though the applicant has four criminal antecedents but three cases have already been disposed of, while one case registered under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code in the year 2022 is still pending consideration and at present, no similar criminal case is pending against the present applicant, and further considering that the charge-sheet has been filed before the competent Court, the applicant is in jail since 15.09.2026, and the conclusion of the trial may take some more time, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed. 7) 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. The observation made hereinabove is for the purpose of deciding this bail application only, the learned trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits. Sd/- (Rakesh Mohan Pandey) JUDGE Rekha

CGHC010408772026 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 9913 of 2026 1 - Lalit Matari @ Jitu Matari S/o Kishore Matari Aged About 34 Years Resident Of Village Bazar Para Saraipali, Police Station Saraipali, District Mahasamund (C.G.) ...Applicant versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Balouda, District Mahasamund (C.G.). --- Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Gurudev I Sharan, Advocate For Non-applicant : Ms.Monika Thakur, PL Hon'ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey