Ratnesh Lodhi v. State Of Chhattisgarh

HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, BILASPUR Order Sheet MCRC No. 1783 of 2018 Ratnesh Lodhi S/o Dal Singh Lodhi Aged About 22 Years R/o Village Chourai, Police Station Dehat (Damoh), Tahsil And District Damoh, Madhya Pradesh. ---- Applicant

Versus

State of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Dongripali District Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. ---- Respondent 19.03.2018 Mrs. Kiran Jain, Counsel for the applicant.

Mrs. Astha Shukla, Panel Lawyer for the State. This is fourth bail application filed under section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking grant of regular bail to applicant in connection with Crime No. 01/2015 registered at Police Station- Dongripali, District- Raigarh (C.G.) for the offence punishable under section 20(B) of the NDPS Act, 1985. The first bail application was dismissed on merits by order dated 31.08.2016. Similarly, the second & third bail applications were dismissed on 02.05.2017 & 08.12.2017 respectively.

As per the prosecution case, on 10.01.2015 a Car bearing Registration No. M.P. 51CA/0120 which was transporting contraband cannabis was intercepted and at that time the driver fled away from the vehicle. It is alleged that on a search being made, 60 Kgs. of contraband cannabis was seized from the said vehicle. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that so far twelve witnesses have been examined and two witnesses are yet to be examined, therefore, there is delay in the process of trial.

Per contra, learned State counsel opposes the bail application. On perusal of the earlier bail rejection orders, I do not find any change of circumstances in this case. Accordingly, this bail application is rejected. However, the trial court is requested to expedite the trial as early as possible preferably within a period of three months.

Sd/- GOUTAM BHADURI JUDGE R a o .