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2026:CGHC:14798 Digitally signed by SOURABH S PA O T U E R L ABH NAFR PATEL Date:

2026.03.30 17:51:47 +0530 HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

MCRC No. 2370 of 2026

1 - Ranjeet Singh S/o Late Babulal, Aged About 22 Years, Resident Of Village-Pachawal, Police Station- Balrampur, District-Balrampur-

Ramanujganj (CG).

... Applicant versus

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Station House Officer, Police Station- Balrampur, District-Balrampur-Ramanujganj (CG).

... Respondent

For Applicant : Mr. Rajneesh Shrivastava, Adv.

For Respondent/State : Ms. Laxmin Kashyap, P.L.

Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal

Order On Board

30/03/2026

1. The applicant has preferred this first bail application under

Section 483 of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Act, 2023 for grant of regular bail as he is arrested in connection with Crime No. 130/2025, registered at Police Station – Balrampur, District- Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.) for offence punishable under Sections 137(2), 87, 64(2)(m), 64(2)(H), 65(1), 69, 351(2) of BNS and Section 4(2), 5(j)(ii), 5(1)/6 of POCSO Act and

Section 3(2)(v) of SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

2. The prosecution's case, in short, is that on 19.09.2025, the

victim filed a report against the applicant at concerned Police

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Station, stating that from 01.05.2021 to 06.09.2025, the applicant committed sexual intercourse with her on multiple occasions. Based on this report, the police registered an FIR

against the applicant, who was subsequently arrested.

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

innocent and has been falsely implicated in the crime in question. It is further submitted that there was a love affair between the applicant and the victim and she was a consenting party. It is also submitted that the victim has been examined and she has stated in her statement that she was a major at the time of incident and they have performed a marriage, and she have a child from the applicant, and wants to live with the applicant. The applicant has no criminal antecedents and has been in jail since 26.09.2025, the trial is likely to take considerable time to conclude; therefore, the applicant may be

released on bail.

4. Per contra, the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the State

opposes the bail application and submits that at the time of the incident, the victim was aged about 15-16 years, and out of total 14 witnesses only victim have been examined till date, at this stage, looking to the gravity of the offence, the applicant

should not be released on bail.

5. Today, the father and mother of the victim appeared virtually

through the concerned DLSA and recorded their ‘objection’ in

granting bail to the applicant.

6. I have heard learned Counsel appearing for the parties and

perused the material available on record.

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7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature

and gravity of the offence, and also taking into account that at the time of the incident, the victim was a minor and there are several important witnesses yet to be examined, I do not find it

appropriate to release the applicant on bail at this stage.

8. Accordingly, the bail application filed under Section 483 of the

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, is rejected

9. However, considering the fact that the applicant is in jail since

26.09.2025. It is an exceptional case, therefore, concerned trial Court is directed to expedite the trial as early as possible

preferably within a period of 05 months from today.

10. Office is directed to sent a certified copy of this order to the trial

Court concerned for necessary information and compliance

forthwith. Sd/-

(Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal)

Judge

Sourabh P.