Online gambling is categorized as an organized syndicate crime that adversely impacts the national economy; therefore, prima facie evidence of providing gambling IDs and financial transactions, coupled with criminal antecedents, justifies the rejection of bail.

Order on Board

1. The present is the second bail application filed by the applicant. The first bail application of the applicant was dismissed as withdrawn vide order dated 06.04.2026 (wrongly typed as 06.04.2025) passed in MCRC No. 2771 of 2026. The applicant, who has been arrested on 19.02.2026 in connection with Crime No. 71/2026 registered at Police Station Civil Line, Raipur, District Raipur for the offences punishable under Sections 7 and 8 of the Chhattisgarh Gambling Prohibition Act, 2022 , is seeking regular bail.

Digitally signed by ALOK SHARMA Date: 2026.05.21 11:35:04 +0530

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 05.02.2026, the police of Police Station Civil Line, Raipur, while on patrolling duty, received secret information that a person is engaged in online gambling through a mobile phone near Surya Apartment, Katora Talab, Raipur. Acting upon the said information, a raid was conducted and co-accused Arun Kumar Yadav was arrested. During interrogation, he disclosed that the present applicant, Manish Aasrani, resident of Kanker, had provided him the IDs of “Bet Only 777.com” and “Ganpati Book”, and one Neeraj Ranglani had provided the ID of “All Panel 777 Now”, through which online gambling activities were being carried out. From co-accused Arun Kumar Yadav, one mobile phone and cash amounting to Rs. 25,000/- were seized. Thereafter, the offence was registered and during investigation the present applicant was arrested. During interrogation, the applicant disclosed that he, along with other co-accused persons, was engaged in online gambling activities and that he had provided the ID of “Bet Only 777.com” to Arun Kumar Yadav. He further disclosed that he used to pay Rs. 30,000/- to him for operating the online gambling activities and had also provided his own mobile number 7869213019 for operating WhatsApp in relation thereto. He also disclosed a money transaction of Rs. 3,000/- made on 29.01.2026. After completion of investigation, charge-sheet has been filed. From the possession of the present applicant, one mobile phone bearing mobile number 9959681080 was seized, in which a betting application logged in under the name “Power Exchange”, having login ID “PW60MJ” and password “manish12”, was found. Further, from the gallery of the said mobile phone, details regarding transfer of Rs. 3,000/- by Sandeep Yadav on 21.01.2026 were also found.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the applicant submits that except the memorandum statement of co-accused Arun Kumar Yadav and the memorandum statement of the applicant himself, no any incriminating material has been collected by the prosecution to connect the present applicant with the offence in question. It is further submitted that no bank details regarding the alleged money transactions between the applicant and the co-accused persons have been collected by the police. He further submits that no cyber report has been obtained to establish the involvement of the applicant in online gambling activities. According to him, the applicant is not connected with the alleged offence and the alleged mobile transactions, being electronic evidence, are not sufficient to implicate him in the present case. He also submits that co-accused Arun Kumar Yadav has already been released on bail by the learned trial Court. The applicant is in custody since 19.02.2026, investigation has already been completed and no further custodial interrogation is required. The trial of the case will take its own time, therefore, the applicant may be enlarged on bail.

4. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for the State opposes the submis