O R D E R

Leave granted.

The appellant, Mangalam Soni, seeks bail in relation to Crime/First Information Report (FIR) No. 11/2025 dated 08.02.2025 registered with Police Station – Ghumka, District – Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, for the offence(s) punishable under Sections 3 17 (2), 317(4), 317(5), 111 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , 2023.

Upon perusing the counter affidavit filed by the State of Chhattisgarh, we are not inclined to accept its plea that the continued incarceration of the appellant is warranted at this stage. It is an admitted fact that charges have already been framed but the trial is yet to commence. The appellant is in prison since 08.02.2025. Custodial interrogation of the appellant would obviously not be warranted or necessary at this stage.

The present appeal is, therefore, allowed; setting aside the Signature Not Verified impugned judgment/order passed by the High Court.

Digitally signed by Deepak Guglani Date: 2025.07.25

17:08:09 IST Reason:

The appellant shall be released on bail in connection with the aforestated FIR, on such appropriate terms and conditions as may be fixed by the trial court.

We clarify that we have not made any observations/comments on