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2026 Supreme(Online)(Chh) 7513
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
Ramesh Sinha, CJ
NARENDRA KUMAR SHARMA @ KARTIKRAM – Appellant
Versus
STATE OF CHHATTISGARH – Respondent
MCRC No. 1561 of 2026
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Neeta Tulsani Thawani
For the Respondents: Anusha Naik
Regular bail may be granted despite serious cheating allegations if the charge-sheet is filed, the accused has been incarcerated for a significant period, and previous criminal antecedents resulted in acquittals.
Headnote:The applicant sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with offences under Sections 318(4), 338, 340(2), 336(4) and 61(2)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The case involves allegations that the accused conspired to cheat a complainant of approximately Rs. 1,59,60,000/- by using forged work orders and royalty slips for a fake sand supply tender. The court noted that the charge-sheet has been filed and the applicant has been in custody since 17.09.2025. The primary issue was whether the applicant is entitled to regular bail given the gravity of the financial fraud. The court reasoned that while the allegations are serious, the completion of the investigation (filing of the charge-sheet), the duration of the applicant's incarceration, and the fact that the applicant was acquitted in three previous criminal cases justify the grant of bail, especially since the trial is likely to take considerable time. Let applicant, Narendra Kumar Sharma @ Kartikram, involved in Crime No. 164/2025, registered at Police Station – Marwahi, District – Gourella-Pendra-Marwahi (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4), 338, 340(2), 336(4) and 61(2)(a) of the BNS, be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond with two sureties in the like sum to the satisfaction of the court concerned with the following conditions.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. allegations of financial fraud involving forged documents and criminal conspiracy to cheat. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4) |
| 2. competing arguments regarding the applicant's innocence and previous acquittals versus the gravity of the fraud. (Para 5 , 6) |
| 3. bail eligibility based on charge-sheet filing, period of custody, and lack of prior convictions. (Para 7 , 8) |
| 4. conditional release on bail to ensure presence during trial. (Para 9 , 10) |
Order on Board
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1. The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 164/2025, registered at Police Station – Marwahi, District – Gourella-Pendra-Marwahi (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4), 338, 340(2), 336(4) and 61(2)(a) of the BNS.
2. The case of the prosecution, is that the complainant Amit Kumar Gupta submitted a written complaint stating that on 03.07.2024, at the complainant's petrol pump "Amit Fuel Marwahi," the accused persons Santosh Singh and Narendra Sharma held discussions regarding the supply of diesel and petrol, pursuant to which transportation work amounting to 2,29,804/- and petrol worth Rs.22,584/- was carried out on 20.02.2025. During the year 2025, the accused persons again, by entering into a criminal conspiracy, lured the complainant by assuring him that a tender for sand supply related to construction work at Moserware Power Production Company, Jaithari, would be awarded to him. On this pretext, they took tender-related documents from the complainant and received a cash amount of Rs.2,50,000/-. After a few days, the accused provided a forged work order letter. Thereafter, the accused Narendra Kumar Sharma and Santosh Singh visited the complainant's establishment and stated that sand supply had to be carried out and demanded money towards sand cost, royalty, and transportation vehicle charges. The complainant sought 2-3 days' time, and thereafter, about 4-5 days later, Narendra Sharma came and received money from the complainant. Subsequently, on several dates, money was received from the complainant, and sand royalty slips were sent to the complainant's mobile number 9424151249 by Arvind Vishwakarma alias Chogle and Narendra Sharma. This fully convinced the complainant that the sand supply work had commenced. Consequently, whenever demanded by accused Narendra Sharma from time to time, the complainant continued to give money, totaling approximately Rs.1,59,60,000/-.
3. The said amount was paid at different times in cash and through bank loans to Narendra Sharma's driver, Mahendra Kariyam. When the complainant inquired about bill payments, the accused used to say that the bill payment was under process and asked him not to worry, stating that as a guarantee they were giving a cheque of Rs.1,50,00,000/- from their other firm, Ganga Filling Station, Jaithari. The cheque bearing number 019941, account number 48401657700133130, dated 27.12.2024, signed by Preeti Singh, was brought and handed over by Santosh Singh, assuring that payment would be made soon. When the complainant pressed for bill payment, the accused provided the contact number of a person named Maskole. Upon calling number 7000200578, he stated that the bill was under process and payment would be made. However, when payment was still not made and the complainant again inquired, the accused Narendra Kumar Sharma, Arvind Vishwakarma, and Santosh Singh stated that through Narendra Sharma they were presently sending a cheque of 24,00,000/- bearing cheque number 000022 dated 26.05.2025, and cheques of Rs.25,00,000/- bearing cheque numbers 000017 and 000018 dated 26.05.2025.
4. According to the written complaint, the complainant deposited cheque number 000022 in the bank for payment, but the said cheque was dishonoured due to insufficient funds. As the bill amoun
