2026:CGHC:16935 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 1486 of 2026 Ravi Manhar S/o Vishnu Manhar Aged About 32 Years R/o Village Podi, P.S. Nawagarh, District : Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh.

... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through - Station House Officer, Police Station Shivrinarayan, District : Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh.

... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Chandra Prakash Lahrey, Advocate For Non-applicant/State : Mr. Saumya Rai, Deputy Govt. Advocate Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice

Order on Board

13.04.2026

1. This is the Second Bail Application filed under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 259/2025 registered at Police Station- Shivrinarayan, District Janjgir-Champa, (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 112(b), 318 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

2. The earlier bail application of the applicant being MCRC No.

RAHUL DEWANGAN

8848/2025 was rejected by this Court vide order dated 13.11.2025 Digitally signed by RAHUL on merits DEWANGAN

3. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on the basis of information received from the Cyber Cell, Range Janjgir, Police Station Shivrinarayan registered an F.I.R., and during the course of investigation it was found that a total amount of Rs. 31,49,312/- had been deposited in 16 different bank accounts, thereafter, Police Station Shivrinarayan conducted the investigation and arrested the persons who had opened the said accounts as well as those who had assisted them. Further, on the complaint of the complainant, Police Station Shivrinarayan registered Crime No. 259/2025 for the offences punishable under Sections 111(2)(b), 317(2), 317(4), 317(5) and 3(5) of the B.N.S., and arrested the present applicant on 04.07.2025 on the allegation that he had also opened such account, and after completion of investigation, filed the charge-sheet against the present applicant along with 15 other co-accused persons.

Hence, this bail application.

4. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that this is the second bail application, the earlier bail application of the applicant was rejected by this Hon’ble Court on merit. He further submits that similarly situated co-accused persons, namely, Hamlata Sahu @ Hema, Govinda Patel, and Rahul Sahu have already been granted bail by this Hon’ble Court vide orders dated 13.11.2025, 23.01.2026 and 26.02.2026 in MCRC Nos. 7489/2025, 9642/2025 and 1168/2026 respectively. He also submits that the applicant has no previous criminal antecedents and is in jail since 04.07.2025 and so far as the status of the trial is concerned, on 20.02.2026 charges were framed and after framing of charge, out of 07 prosecution witnesses, no prosecution witnesses have been examined in the case, the charge-sheet has been filed and the trial is likely to take some time for its conclusion. Therefore, he prays for grant of bail to the applicant on the ground of parity.

5. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State opposes the bail application of the applicant and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed before the competent Court, but could not dispute the fact that co-accused persons have already been granted bail by this Hon’ble Court and the case of the present applicant is identical to that of the co-accused.

6. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary.

7. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case and also considering the fact that this is the second bail application and the earlier bail application of the applicant was rejected on merits, further the fact that though the present applicant along with other co-accused persons involved in the said crime, but other co- accused persons, namely, Hamlata Sahu @ Hema, Vansh Dewangan, Govinda Patel, and Rahul Sahu have already been granted bail by this Hon’ble Court vide orders dated 13.11.2025, 11.12.2025,