2025:CGHC:18885 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 584 of 2025 Vishal Pandey S/o Manoj Pandey Aged About 27 Years R/o L.I.G. - 49, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla Nagar, Korba, Tehsil And District- Korba, Chhattisgarh.

... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through Chowki Manikpur, Korba, District- Korba, Chhattisgarh.

... Non-Applicant For Applicant :Mr. Anshul Tiwari, Advocate.

For Non-Applicant/State :Mr. U.K.S. Chandel, Deputy Advocate General.

Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Digitally signed by PREETI PREETI KUMARI Order on Board KUMARI D 20a 2te 5: .04.26

11:52:15 +0530

25.04.2025

1. This anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No. 156/2025 registered at Police Chowki Manikpur, Police Station – Kotwwali, Korba, District- Korba (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 409, 420, 466, 468, 471 of Indian Penal Code, 1860.

2. The prosecution story, in brief, is that the applicant through his Firm M/s Chancler Developer has prepared a challan by changing the TRRN number of the soft copy of the challan payable to the firm and therefore he had embezzled the money of sum of Rs. 5492/- from the Government and its employees. On the said allegations the FIR was registered in Chowki Manikpur, Police Station – Kotawali, Korba, District – Korba, Chhattisgarh against the applicant under Sections 409, 420, 466, 468 and 471 of Indian Penal Code, 1860.

3. It has been argued by the learned counsel for the applicant that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. It is submitted that there is no intention or motive of the applicant to commit such crime, therefore, when the applicant came to know about the said wrong EPF Challan he had wrote a letter to the General Manager of SECL, Korba on 22.03.2025 and he has clearly stated that the previous EPS deposit was made through his agent and it was later found that the challan submitted was incorrect and further to rectify the said mistake the applicant has deposited the pending EPFO amount through the ofÏcial EPFO Indian website on 21.03.2025 and the account statement of the said payment has also been annexed along with the letter dated 22.03.2025. Therefore, he prays for grant of anticipatory bail to the applicant.

4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the bail application and submits that as per the case diary, it transpires that the applicant prepared the challan by changing the TRRN number of the soft copy of the challan payable by M/s Chancellor Developers till March 2023 and by inserting a fake TRRN number and embezzled the money of the government and the employees working under it. Therefore, the applicant is not entitled for grant of anticipatory bail in this case.

5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the materials available on record.

6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of allegation leveled against the applicant and as per the case diary, it transpires that the applicant prepared the challan by changing the TRRN number of the soft copy of the challan payable by M/s Chancellor Developers till March 2023 and by inserting a fake TRRN number and embezzled the money of the government and the employees working under it, hence, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be granted anticipatory bail in this case.

7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant – Vishal Pandey on executing a personal bond with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting OfÏcer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:-

(a) The Applicant 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.

(b) The Applican