##PAGE1##

1

2026:CGHC:15582

NAFR Digitally signed by ARPAN ARPAN SRIVASTAVA

SRIVASTAVA Date:

HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

2026.04.07

10:49:04 +0530

MCRC No. 3041 of 2026

Ajay Kumar Sharma S/o B.R. Sharma Aged About 60 Years R/o. Govindpur, P.S. Kotwali, District Kanker (C.G.) At Present Excise Sub

Inspector, Circle Bacheli, District Dantewada (C.G)

...Applicant

versus

State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House OfÏcer, P.S. Bacheli, District Dantewada (C.G)

... Non-applicant

For Applicant : Mr. T.K. Jha, Advocate.

For Non-applicant/State : Ms. Vaishali Mahilang, P.L.

Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice

Order on Board

06/04/2026

1. The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under

Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No.49/2025, registered at Police Station : Bacheli, District-

2

Dantewada (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 316(5), 336(3), 318, 338, 340, 61 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya

Sanhita, 2023.

2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that as per the

prosecution case, on 25.11.2025, a surprise inspection was conducted at the English Composite Liquor Shop, Bacheli. During the course of physical verification of the shop, an amount of ₹92,09,370/- (Rupees Ninety-Two Lakh Nine Thousand Three Hundred Seventy only) was found. It was further revealed that an amount of ₹60,38,404/- (Rupees Sixty Lakh Thirty-Eight Thousand Four Hundred Four only) had not been deposited in the bank account. Thus, a total amount of ₹1,52,47,774/- (Rupees One Crore Fifty-Two Lakh Forty-Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy-Four only) was found to have been misappropriated/embezzled by the accused persons, namely, Kosuri Chandrashekhar, Rakesh Uike, Devendra Kumar Paikara, Deepak Yadav, and the present applicant, who was posted as Excise Sub-Inspector in Excise Circle, Bacheli. It is alleged that the said embezzlement of money was committed

during the period from 01.10.2025 to 24.11.2025.

3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is

3

innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that the applicant is suffering from a kidney stone and has been advised surgery by the doctor, and the relevant medical documents are filed and annexed here with Annexure A/3. It is also further submitted that the co-accused persons have already been granted bail by this Court in MCRC No. 10419/2025, MCRC No. 1554/2026, and MCRC No. 1754/2026, which is allowed by this Court vide order dated 29/01/2026, 24/03/2026 respectiverly. Therefore he submits that the present applicant is also entitled to be released on regular

bail on the ground of parity.

4. On the other hand, learned State counsel appearing for the non-

applicant/State opposes the bail application and submits that the applicant has been rightly implicated in the present case on the basis of material collected during investigation. It is submitted that the offence is serious in nature, involving misappropriation of a substantial amount of public money. However, the learned State counsel does not dispute the fact that the co-accused persons have already been granted bail by this Court in MCRC No. 10419/2025, MCRC No. 1554/2026, and MCRC No. 1754/2026. It is further submitted that the investigation has revealed the involvement of the present

4

applicant, and therefore, he is not entitled to the benefit of bail.

5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the

case diary as well as the material available on record.

6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the

case, particularly the medical condition of the applicant, the fact that co-accused persons have already been granted bail, and the period of custody undergone by the applicant since 28.11.2025, and without commenting on the merits of the case, this Court is of the considered view that a case for grant of bail is made out. Accordin