1 2025:CGHC:28747 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 805 of 2025 Sonraj Soni S/o Paras Soni Aged About 30 Years R/o Kaserpara Navapara Rajim P.S. Gobara Navapara, District Raipur (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through S H O P.S. Dugli, District Dhamtari (C.G.) ... Respondent For Applicant : Ms. Madhunisha Singh, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Shri Sakib Ahmed, PL. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order On Board 27/06/2025 1. The applicant has preferred this application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), for grant of anticipatory bail, apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.18/2025, registered at Police Station Dugli, District- Dhamtari for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections- 305, 331 (3) of BNS. GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2025.06.30 14:59:15 +0530 2 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that complainant Mansukh Ram Netam lodged a report on 27.04.25 that on 24.04.2025 between 12.00 to 01.00 in the afternoon, some unknown thief broke the lock of the main gate of the house and entered the house and stole gold and silver jewellery kept in the box of the house, including 06 pieces of gold leaf, 02 pieces of gold tops, 02 pieces of silver sati, 01 piece of silver necklace (dora), 01 piece of silver clip, total worth Rs. 64,500 and cash amount of Rs. 81,000, total amounting to Rs. 1,45,500. On the report, crime number 18/25 under sections 331 (3), 305 BNS was registered in Dugli police station and taken into investigation. During the investigation, the accused When the involvement of Devnarayan and Lokesh Sahu was revealed, they were taken into custody and a memorandum statement was recorded. During the investigation, it was also revealed that the applicant/accused Sonraj Soni had purchased the gold and silver jewellery stolen from the other accused for Rs. 76,000/-. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that allegation against the applicant is that he used to purchase stolen gold and silver ornaments and the name of the applicant has come in the memorandum statement of the co-accused. She would submit that there is one criminal antecedent of the applicant in which he is on bail, therefore she prays to enlarge the applicant on anticipatory bail. 3 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail and he would submit that there is one criminal antecedent against the applicant and gold and silver ornaments were seized from the applicant. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the fact that the applicant is a jeweler and has been purchasing stolen gold and silver ornaments from the co-accused and the name of the applicant has come in the memorandum statement of co-accused and there is also one criminal antecedent of similar nature in which the applicant counsel states that the applicant is on bail, considering the fact, I am not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant. 7. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant - Sonraj Soni, involved in Crime No.18/2025, registered at Police Station Dugli, District- Dhamtari for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections- 305, 331 (3) of BNS is rejected. Sd/-Sd S S S Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice gouri