2026:CGHC:12556 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 9378 of 2025 Arjun Singh S/o Brahmdev Aged About 24 Years R/o Siyamal Pataini Hathras Thana Mursan Distt.- Hathras (U.P.)

... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station- Purani Basti Distt.- Raipur (C.G.)

... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Vikas A. Shrivastava, Advocate For Non-Applicant/State : Mr. Sourabh Sahu, Panel Lawyer.

Digitally signed by Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice ABHISHEK ABHISHEK SHRIVAS SHRIVAS Date:

2026.03.17

16:39:22 Order on Board +0530

16.03.2026

1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 282/2025 registered at Police Station Purani Basti, District – Raipur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.

2. The brief facts of the case are that the complainant, Rameshwar Prasad Dewangan, submitted a written application to Police Station Purani Basti, stating that he resides at Street No. 1, behind Sheetla Mandir, Purani Basti, Raipur. He is a retired Assistant Grade-III officer who had served on deputation in the Education Department. He stated that at about 1:30 A.M. on 14.07.2025, he received an anonymous call on his mobile number 9993383382, which he could not answer. Approximately 15 minutes later, he received another call from mobile number 918923427749, wherein the caller stated that he was calling from the Telephone Department and informed him that his number was being temporarily suspended for investigation purposes and that for further information he should press 0 or 9. Upon pressing 0, he was informed that FIR No. MH5621/0425 had been registered in his name and that his number was being temporarily suspended for investigation. Thereafter, at about 3:45 P.M., the name Rajneesh Mishra appeared on his phone from another unknown number 916026940342, after which the name disappeared. He subsequently received a photograph and certain messages on his WhatsApp number 6260091440. He was asked to view the photograph and identify a person whose name was stated to be Naresh Goyal, to which he replied that he did not know the said person. Thereafter, a photograph of his Canara Bank ATM card was sent to him and he was informed that the said ATM card had been found during a raid conducted at the house of the said Goyal, which was allegedly being investigated by the CBI, and that he would be required to appear for recording his statement. When he refused to go, he was threatened with arrest. Being a senior citizen, he was told that his statement could be recorded online, for which he was required to send a request letter. He wrote a letter and sent it, which was allegedly accepted by the CBI, and a copy of the same was sent to him through WhatsApp with a seal and stamp. It is alleged that a video call was continuously conducted through WhatsApp and he was directed to deposit money. Being frightened, on 15.07.2025 at 13:33 hours, he transferred Rs. 4,00,000/- from his Punjab National Bank Account No. 2966000400075737 to Account No. 00510777875190001. On 16.07.2025, he transferred Rs. 17,00,000/- from his SBI Account No. 30653616149 to Account No. 921020039859529, and on 17.07.2025, he transferred Rs. 3,00,000/- from his Punjab National Bank account to Account No. 2395110210050539. It is alleged that by making calls from various mobile numbers, threatening him with arrest and intimidating him, the accused persons committed a fraud of Rs. 14,00,000/-. On the basis of the report lodged by the complainant, Police Station Purani Basti registered Crime No. 282/2025 for the offence punishable under Section 318(4) of the Indian Penal Code and took up the matter for investigation.

During the course of investigation, the present applicant was arrested.

3. Learned counsel