Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.
1
2025:CGHC:2501
NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 70 of 2025 Priti Chandra D/o Pramod Kumar Chandra Aged About 36 Years Gramin Krishi Vistar Adhikari District Sarangarh Bilaigarh C.G.
... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, P.S.- Kosir Dist.- Sarangarh-Bilaigarh (C.G.)
... Non-Applicant(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Neeraj Kumar Sharma, Advocate. For Non-Applicant(s) : Mr. S.S. Baghel, Deputy G.A. Hon'ble
Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice
Order on Board 15.01.2025
1. This first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.303/2024 registered at Police Station Kosir Dist.- Sarangarh-Bilaigarh (C.G.) for the offence punishable AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN Digitally signed by AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN Date: 2025.01.16 11:48:53 +0530
2 under Section 318(4), 338, 336(3) and 331 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (for short ‘BNS’).
2. Prosecution case in brief is that the a case has been registered at the Kosir Police Station under Section 318(4), 338, 336(3), and 331 of BNS, against several individuals, including Preeti Chandra (present applicant), the manager of the Service Cooperative Society Limited, Kosir, and others. The case alleges that there were serious irregularities in the paddy procurement process at the society's center in Raksa, including the purchase of excess paddy from farmers, procurement without proper documentation, preparation of fake weight slips and arrival receipts. The investigation team also found that documents were prepared under pressure. Thereafter, the offence has been registered against the applicant.
3. Learned counsel for the applicant would submit that the applicant is lady and has been falsely implicated in the present case. He further submits that one of the co-accused person, namely, Ganpat Jangde, has already been granted anticipatory bail by this Court vide order dated 08.01.2025 in MCRCA No.15 of 2025 and the case of present applicant is similar to that of the co-accused person, hence he prays for grant of anticipatory bail to the applicant.
4. On the other hand, learned State counsel has opposed the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail and submits that the applicant
3 alongwith other co-accused persons were involved in the case of serious irregularities in the paddy procurement process at the society's center in Raksa, including the purchase of excess paddy from farmers, procurement without proper documentation, preparation of fake weight slips and arrival receipts, therefore, the applicant is not entitled for grant of anticipatory bail.
5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary.
6. Considering the facts & circumstances of the case, submissions of
learned counsel for the parties and nature of dispute and material available in case diary, further considering the allegation against the applicant that she alongwith other co-accused persons were involved in the case of serious irregularities in the paddy procurement process at the society's center in Raksa, including the purchase of excess paddy from farmers, procurement without proper documentation, preparation of fake weight slips and arrival receipts, but one of the co-accused persons, namely, Ganpat Jangde, has already been granted anticipatory bail by this Court vide order dated 08.01.2025 in MCRCA No.15 of 2025 and the case of present applicant is similar to that of the co-accused person, also considering the fact that the applicant is lady, as such, without further commenting anything on merits, this Court find it appropriate to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant.
4
7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant - Priti Chandra, on executing a personal bond with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) She shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade her from disclosing such fact to the Court. (b) She shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) She shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to her by the said Court till disposal of the trial. (d) The applicant and the surety shall submit a copy of their adhaar card alongwith a colored postcard full size photo having printed the adhaar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court. (e) She shall not involve herself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Akhil