2026:CGHC:387 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR KUNAL DEWANGAN Digitally signed by KUNAL DEWANGAN MCRC No. 9586 of 2025

1 - Abubakar @ Butai S/o Khalil Aged About 45 Years R/o Village- Mahaveerganj, Police Chowki-Vijaynagar, Police Station Ramanujganj, District-Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

2 - Jilani S/o Satar Aged About 42 Years R/o Village- Mahaveerganj, Police Chowki-Vijaynagar, Police Station Ramanujganj, District-

Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

3 - Shamim S/o Satar Aged About 40 Years R/o Village- Mahaveerganj, Police Chowki-Vijaynagar, Police Station Ramanujganj, District-

Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

4 - Sarfaraj S/o Abubakar Aged About 22 Years R/o Village- Mahaveerganj, Police Chowki-Vijaynagar, Police Station Ramanujganj, District-Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

5 - Ibrar S/o Abubakar Aged About 20 Years R/o Village- Mahaveerganj, Police Chowki-Vijaynagar, Police Station Ramanujganj, District-

Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

6 - Aslam S/o Jilani Aged About 20 Years R/o Village- Mahaveerganj, Police Chowki-Vijaynagar, Police Station Ramanujganj, District-

Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.)

... Applicant(s)

versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Police Chowki- Vijaynagar, Police Station - Ramanujganj, District - Balrampur-

Ramanujganj (C.G.) ... Non-applicant(s)

For Applicants : Mr. Malay Shrivastava, Advocate For Non-applicant/State : Ms. Nupur Trivedi, Panel Lawyer.

Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice

Order on Board

05.01.2026

1. The applicants have preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as they have been arrested in connection with Crime No. 172/2025, registered at Police Station- Ramanujganj, District- Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 238, 299, 325, 3(5) of the BNS and Sections 4, 6 and 10 of the Chhattisgarh Farmer Animal Protection Act, 2004 and Section 11(1) (घ) of Chhattisgarh Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

2. The case of the prosecution in brief is that the allegation against the applicants/accused persons is that on 15.10.2025, at Village Chauragad, the accused persons, belonging to the Muslim community, committed cow slaughter with the intention of hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus prior to the festival of Lakshmi Pujan and disturbing communal harmony. It is alleged that during the night, the accused persons slaughtered a calf, cooked and consumed its meat and concealed the skin and hooves at an undisclosed place. On the basis of the said report, an FIR was registered, the accused persons were arrested, and their memorandum statements were recorded. Pursuant thereto, four severed hooves of the cow, cow meat, and an iron dagger used in the commission of the offence were seized from the accused persons. Thereafter, the accused persons were remanded to judicial custody.

3. Learned counsel for the applicants submit that the applicants are innocent and have not committed any offence punishable under Sections 238, 299, 325 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Sections 4, 6 and 10 of the Chhattisgarh Farmer Animal Protection Act, 2004, and Section 11(1)(घ) of the Chhattisgarh Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. It is further submitted that the applicants have been falsely implicated in the present case and that there is not even an iota of evidence on record to establish their involvement in the alleged offence. The applicants have been in custody since 16.10.2025 and their continued incarceration is unjustified in the absence of any credible material against them. He further submits that the applicants have no criminal antecedents and in the present case, charge-sheet has been filed before the competent Court and as the trial is likely to take considerable time for its conclusion, therefore, it is humbly prayed that the applicants may kindly be released on bail.

4. Learned State Counsel opposes the prayer for grant of bail and submits that the appli