1 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 7640 of 2025 1 - Roopdas Ghritlahre S/o Mohan Lal Ghritlahre Aged About 29 Years R/o Hardibandh P.S. And Tahshil Lormi District- Mungeli Chhattisgarh. ... Applicant versus 1 - State of Chhattisgarh Through- Station House Officer, P.S.- Lalpur, District- Mungeli Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent(s) For Applicant : Shri Sanskar Rajput, Advocate. For State : Ms. Priya Sharma, Panel Lawyer. Hon’ble Shri Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, J Order on Board 28.10.2025 1. Pursuant to the order dated 24.09.2025, notice issue to complainant/victim was served upon her father, however, since no one appears on their behalf to make submission on bail application, this court proceeds to hear the bail application in their absence. 2. This is first bail application seeking grant of bail to the Applicant who is in jail since 23.05.2025 in connection with Crime No.72/2025 registered at Police Station Lalpur, District Mungeli, for the offence punishable under Sections 137(2), 87, 64(n) & 3(5) of BNS and Section 4&6 of POCSO Act. 2 3. As per prosecution case, on 29.04.2025 a missing report was lodged by the father of victim that his minor daughter is missing since 28.04.2025 and her whereabouts could not be traced out. The police registered an offence under Section 137(2) of BNS and started investigation. During investigation, the victim came back to her house on 01.05.2025 and she was being taken to police station where the police recorded her statement. After recording her statement, the other offences were added. The applicant was also arrested and charge sheet was filed with an allegation that on 28.04.2025 he took the victim to main accused Manjit and after two days, he has taken her back to her house. 4. Learned Counsel for the applicant would submit that there is no allegation against the present applicant that he committed any offence of rape against the victim. The only allegation against the present applicant is that being friend of main accused, he has taken the victim to main accused Manjit and thereafter taken her back to her house after two days. It is also submitted that the victim has neither raised any objection nor protested the applicant. Therefore, the applicant may be released on bail as final adjudication may take sometime. 5. On the other hand the counsel for the State opposes the bail application. 6. Without commenting on merits, considering the totality of the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature of allegation and material collected during investigation and also considering the fact that there is no allegation against the applicant that he committed offence of rape 3 and only allegation against him is that being friend he has taken the victim to main accused, this Court is of the opinion that present is a fit case where the Applicant can be enlarged on bail. 7. Accordingly, the application for grant of bail is allowed. It is directed that the Applicant shall be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- with one surety of the like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned Trial Court for his appearance on each date of hearing before the trial Court, unless exempted from personal appearance by the said Court. 8. It is made clear that the observations made by this court is only restricted to the decision of bail application and shall not affect the merits of the case. The trial court is expected to decide the case on its own merit without being influenced by any of the observations made hereinabove. Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) Judge inder