1 2025:CGHC:31051 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 981 of 2025 Anup Kumar Verma S/o Sureshchand Verma, (Wrongly Mentioned As Sureshchandra Verma In The Cause Title Of The Impugned Order)Aged About 36 Years , R/o.- 895, Indira Nagar, Ward No. 10, Charama, District- Uttar Bastar, Kanker (C.G.) (Uttar Bastar Not Mentioned In The Cause Title Of The Impugned Order) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through P.S.- Chawni, District-Durg (C.G.) ... Respondent For Applicant : Shri Prasoon Agrawal, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Shri Hariom Rai, PL. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 07/07/2025 1. This first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2025.07.08 16:26:51 +0530 2 Crime No.251/2025 registered at Police Station – Chawni, District Durg (C.G) for the offence punishable under Section 108 of BNS, 2023. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the deceased was a doctor and his objectionable video with another lady was made by the villagers, after which the village members organised a meeting in village and started demanding Rs.5,00,000/-from the deceased, else threatened that the video would be made viral. When the deceased made attempt to suicide, he took name of several villagers and thereafter he committed suicide by hanging. He has left a suicide note also. Thereafter, the FIR was registered against the applicant. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the name of the applicant does not find place in the suicide note, neither the name of the applicant has been taken by the deceased. He would submit that the applicant is a journalist and had merely published a news regarding the incidence, the applicant was never a part of any kind of meeting in the village nor he has ever demanded any kind of money from the deceased. He would submit that case of the applicant is identical to that of the co-accused persons namely Lokesh Barshagde and Suryakant who were also journalist and they have been granted anticipatory bail by this Court in MCRCA No.847/2025, therefore, the present applicant is entitled to be released on anticipatory bail. 3 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel, appearing for the non - applicant/State, opposes the prayer 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 and also considering the fact that case of the applicant who is a journalist is identical to that of the co-accused persons namely Lokesh Barshagde and Suryakant who were also journalist and they have been granted anticipatory bail by this Court in MCRCA No.847/2025, therefore I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the present applicant. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant – Anup Kumar Verma, on executing a personal bond and one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) The applicant 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 him from disclosing such fact to the Court. (b) The applicant shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) The applicant shall appear before the trial Court on 4 each and every date given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial. (d) The applicant and the surety shall submit a copy of his adhaar card along with a coloured postcard full size photo having printed the adhaar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court. (e) The applicant shall not involve himself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice gouri