1 2025:CGHC:23529 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 4335 of 2025 Sofiya Khan W/o Salim Khan Aged About 52 Years R/o Village Gorakhpur, Tahsil -Pendra Road, District - Gaurella Pendra Marwahi (Gpm) Chhattisgarh ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through - Police Station Gaurella, District - Gaurella- Pendra-Marwahi (GPM) Chhattisgarh ... Non-Applicant For Applicant : Mr. Kishore Narayan, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Ms. Shailja Shukla, Deputy Government Advocate. Hon’ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 12.06.2025 1 The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No.434/2024, registered at Police Station – Gaurella, District - Gaurella-Pendra- Marwahi (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 420 and 406 of Indian Penal Code. 2 The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the applicant cheated 30-35 women by telling them that she could secure them loan for goat farming, PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2025.06.13 19:32:26 +0530 2 poultry farming and agriculture from Bank, namely, Federal Bank, Fusion Bank, Pragati Bank. For this purpose, women self help group was also formed. It is alleged that the bank transferred money in the account of the women. Thereafter, the applicant told that now there loan account is closed and they were not required to pay back the loan. 3 It is argued by the learned counsel for the applicant that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. He also submits that it is not clear that how much money was taken by the applicant from the complaining women. They applied for loan and they received the loan. The applicant is no where benefited from them. He also submits that the co-accused, namely, Ramzan Khan @ Rahim Khan has been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 17.04.2025 passed in MCRC No. 2530/2025. He later submits that the applicant has two previous criminal antecedents, out of which in one case registered in Crime No. 305/2015, she has been granted bail and is pending. He also submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in this case and the applicant is in jail since 30.01.2025 and trial is likely to take quite long time for its conclusion, therefore, he prays for grant of bail. 4 On the other hand, the learned State counsel opposed the bail application and submitted that the charge-sheet has been filed. He further submits that from the perusal of the record, it transpires that the complainants, 35 women from a self-help group in village Newari Nawapara, alleged that applicant, namely, Sofiya Khan, posing as a bank agent, deceived them into filling loan forms for various purposes, promising a profit of Rs. 1-1.5 lakhs after 6 months. Despite never received the loan amount or benefiting from it, the women were later asked to repay the loans by the banks. When they approached Sofiya Khan, she disappeared and threatened them over phone, refusing to 3 refund the loan amount, further the applicant has two previous criminal antecedents, therefore, the applicant is not entitled to be released on bail. 5 I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the documents available on record. 6 Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of allegation levelled against the applicant and the fact the complainants, 35 women from a self-help group in village Newari Nawapara, alleged that applicant, namely, Sofiya Khan, posing as a bank agent, deceived them into filling loan forms for various purposes, promising a profit of Rs. 1-1.5 lakhs after 6 months, despite never received the loan amount or benefiting from it, when they approached Sofiya Khan, she disappeared and threatened them over phone, refusing to refund the loan amount, further the applicant has two previous criminal antecedents, in one case she has been granted bail and the co-accused who has been granted bail by this Court is on different putting, I am not inclined to allow this application. 7 Accordingly, the bail application of the applicant - Sofiya Khan involved in Crime No.434/2024, registered at Police Station – Gaurella, District - Gaurella-Pendra-Marwahi (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 420 and 406 of Indian Penal Code, is rejected at this stage. 8 Needless to say that the trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed and conclude the trial expeditiously. 9 Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Preeti