Order on Board

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. 64/2025 registered at Police Station- ACB/EOW, Raipur, District- Raipur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 7(C) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B of IPC, 1860.

2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the applicant/accused, while working as an Assistant Statistical OfÏcer, was directly associated with the conduct and management of the Departmental Examination, 2024. It is alleged that by abusing his ofÏcial position, he remained in contact with the candidates appearing in the said examination as well as with other co-accused persons who were ofÏcials associated with the Question Paper Printing Committee. The prosecution further alleges that the applicant, in connivance with the said co-accused persons, arranged to provide copies of the question paper to certain candidates prior to the examination. Through this illegal arrangement, the applicant and other co- accused persons, with the assistance of their associates, allegedly collected an amount exceeding Rs. 1 crore from the candidates appearing in the examination in consideration of providing the leaked question papers. Based upon such, aforesaid offences were registered against the accused.

3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case and has no role in the commission of the alleged offence. It is further submitted that neither has the applicant demanded nor accepted any illegal gratification from any candidate and no such amount has been recovered from him. It is also submitted that the investigation has already been completed and the charge-sheet has been filed, therefore, no further custodial interrogation of the applicant is required. He further submits that there is no material available in the charge-sheet to prima facie establish the involvement of the applicant in fabrication or use of any forged document. It is also submitted that the trial is likely to take considerable time and continued detention of the applicant would cause serious hardship. Moreover, the co-accused persons, namely Premlata Padmakar and Leena Dewangan, have already been granted anticipatory bail by this Court vide order dated 22.01.2026 passed in MCRCA No. 1971/2025 and MCRCA No. 48/2026, respectively. Hence, it is prayed that the applicant be released on bail.

4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the prayer for grant of bail and submits that the applicant, being a public servant, has abused his ofÏcial position and played an active role in leaking the question paper of the Departmental Examination, 2024 in connivance with other co-accused persons and allegedly collected an amount exceeding Rs. 1 crore from candidates. Considering the seriousness and gravity of the offence, it is submitted that the applicant is not entitled to the benefit of bail.

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

6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of the offence, the period of detention of the applicant since 20.11.2025, and the fact that the investigation has been completed and the charge-sheet has already been filed before the competent Court and further considering that the co-accused persons, namely Premlata Padmakar and Leena Dewangan, have been granted anticipatory bail by this Court vide order dated 22.01.2026 passed in MCRCA No. 1971/2025 and MCRCA No. 48/2026 respectively and the applicant has no criminal antecedent, therefore, without commenting anything on the merits of the case, I am inclined to grant bail to the applicant.

7. Accordingly, the bail application of the applicant is allowed.

8. Let the applicant – Virendra Jatav, involved in Crime No. 64/202