2026:CGHC:8997-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR Digitally signed by BABLU BABLU RAJENDRA RAJENDRA BHANARKAR BHANARKARDate:

2026.02.20 15:51:15 +0530 CRMP No. 548 of 2026 Sumit Kumar Das S/o Shri Subhash Chandra Das Aged About 45 Years R/o D.N.K. 41, C.C. Banglow, Ward No. 12, T.T. 01, Colony, Mana Camp, Raipur, Tah. And District - Raipur (C.G.)

... Petitioner(s)

versus

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station - Rajnandgaon Kotwali, District - Rajnandgaon (C.G.)

2 - Sudesh Ku. Sahu Assistant Director Fisheries, Rajnandgaon, Rajnandgaon Kotwali, District - Rajnandgaon (C.G.)

3 - Geetanjali Gajbhiye Assistant Director, Fisheries, Dhamtari, Rudri, District - Dhamtari (C.G.)

4 - Naved Mirza S/o Maksud Mirza Aged About 45 Years R/o Behind Madarsa Faizulraza, Talapara, Bilaspur, District - Bilaspur (C.G.)

... Respondent(s)

For Petitioner : Mr. Shahid Siddiqui, Advocate For Respondent No.1/State : Mr. Nitansh Jaiswal, Deputy Government Advocate Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Arvind Kumar Verma , Judge

Order on Board

Per Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice

20.02.2026

1. Heard Mr. Shahid Siddiqui, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. Nitansh Jaiswal, learned Deputy Government Advocate, appearing for the State/respondent No. 1.

2. The present petition has been filed by the petitioner with the following prayer:

“It is, therefore, prayed that this Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to quash and set-aside the impugned charge-sheet No. 366 of 2025 dated 17.09.2025 (Annexure P/1) in Crime No. 403 of 2024, order taking cognizance in order-sheet dated 19.09.2025 (Annexure P/2) and the entire Criminal Case No. RCC/8353/2025 pending before CJM, Rajanandgaon arising out of Crime No. 403 of 2024 for the alleged offences under Section 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of IPC, 1860 against the petitioner, in the interest of justice.”

3. Facts of the case are that the petitioner is the Director of M/s S.S. Aquaculture and M/s S.S. Aquafeed, situated at Pathrri, Fingeshwar, Rajim/Jhanki, Raipur (C.G.), and has been engaged in the business of supplying fish feed and providing services related to pisciculture since the year 2019. The petitioner claims to have carried on the said business honestly and in accordance with law, maintaining a spotless record and earning goodwill in the field of aquaculture.

4. On 04.07.2024, an FIR was registered at Police Station Rajnandgaon Kotwali, District Rajnandgaon, on the basis of a complaint made by the Assistant Director, Fisheries, Rajnandgaon, against the petitioner and other accused persons. The allegations pertain to offences under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. After investigation, Charge Sheet No. 366/2025 dated 17.09.2025 was filed before the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Rajnandgaon, and cognizance was taken on 19.09.2025.

5. The petitioner’s firm was engaged in providing fish seed and fish feed for cage culture in departmental reservoirs. It is the petitioner’s case that invoices were duly submitted to the Fisheries Department for the material supplied, and the responsibility for processing and disbursing payments to beneficiaries rested with the concerned departmental authorities, not with the petitioner’s firm.

6. The petitioner asserts that fish feed and aquaculture inputs worth approximately Rs. 170 lakhs were supplied in accordance with departmental guidelines and work orders. The firm claims to have acted strictly as a supplier/installer and not to have been responsible for the management of funds or distribution of payments to beneficiaries.

7. It is further stated that the petitioner procured fish feed from reputed firms and supplied the same for use in reservoirs, including Nawagaon Reservoir. The petitioner contends that all work was carried out transparently as per departmental directions and approvals, and that the firm incurred expenses in excess of the payments received.

8. According to the petitioner, it was withi