Supreme Court – Daily Orders
Govinda @ Sonu Mehar vs State Of Chhattisgarh on 18 July, 2025
Author: Surya Kant
Bench: Surya Kant
ITEM NO.7 COURT NO.2 SECTION II-C
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s).6217/2025
[Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 23-01-
2025 in MCRC No. 471/2025 passed by the High Court of
Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur]
GOVINDA @ SONU MEHAR Petitioner(s)
VERSUS
STATE OF CHHATTISGARH Respondent(s)
(IA No.104917/2025 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.)
Date : 18-07-2025 This matter was called on for hearing today.
CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JOYMALYA BAGCHI
For Petitioner(s) :Mr. C B Gururaj, Adv.
Mr. Animesh Dubey, Adv.
Ms. Ilashri Gaur, Adv.
Mr. K P Singh, Adv.
M/s. Gururaj & Nayak, AOR
For Respondent(s) :Mr. Praneet Pranav, D.A.G.
Mr. Vinayak Sharma, Standing Counsel, Adv.
Mr. Ravinder Kumar Yadav, AOR
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R
1. The petitioner seeks enlargement on bail in FIR No.223/2024
dated 20.03.2024 registered at Police Station Ratanpur, District
Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh for the offences under Sections 21 and 22
Signature Not Verified
ARJUN BISHT
Date: 2025.07.18
of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (in
Digitally signed by
17:00:15 IST
Reason:
short, the “NDPS Act”).
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2. The allegations are that the petitioner was intercepted
when he was carrying 17 bottles (100 ml. each) of Codeine
Phosphate Syrup Maxcough which is a banned narcotic. These
bottles he was carrying on his motorcycle. The petitioner was
arrested on 21.03.2024 and is in custody since then. It is
alleged that the 17 bottles of Codeine Phosphate Syrup Maxcough
(100 ml. Each) constitute commercial quantity and hence rigors
of Section 37 of the NDPS Act are attracted.
3. It is also pointed out that the petitioner has criminal
antecedents and previously he was involved in a case of non-
commercial quantity under the NDPS Act besides one more case
under the Excise Act.
4. It appears that three prosecution witnesses have turned
hostile. The petitioner is stated to be suffering from serious
neurological conditions due to a previous injury. The C.T. Scan
report depicting abnormality was produced before the High Court.
He is in custody for about 1½ years. Though, 10 out of 16
witnesses have already been examined, but it seems that
conclusion of trial will still take some time.
5. In the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, we
deem it appropriate to release the petitioner on bail at this
stage subject to the terms and conditions that may be imposed by
the Trial Court. However, if the petitioner is found indulged in
any act which may constitute offence under the NDPS Act, the
Police Authority shall be at liberty to arrest him
notwithstanding the instant order releasing him on bail.
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6. The Special Leave Petition is, accordingly, disposed of.
7. All pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of.
(ARJUN BISHT) (PREETHI T.C.)
ASTT. REGISTRAR-cum-PS ASSISTANT REGISTRAR
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