1 2025:CGHC:54853 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 8994 of 2025 Ankita Panigrahi D/o Late Pradeep Panigrahi, Aged About 33 Years, R/o Ashakiran Vatika, Bargarh, Police Station- Town Police Station Bargarh, Distt.- Bargarh (Odisha) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through State Economic Offence Wing and Anti- Corrution Bureau, Raipur (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. H.S. Ahluwalia, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Ms. Supriya Upasane, Government Advocate. Hon’ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 11/11/2025 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 she has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 01/2023, registered at Police Station – State Economic Offence Wing and Anti-Corrution Bureau, Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 13(1)(a) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 along with Prevention of Corruption Act (Amendment Act 2018) and Section 409 of Indian Penal Code. PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2025.11.11 19:03:14 +0530 2 2. As per the prosecution story, the applicant, while working as Assistant Manager (Second Line) at SACB, Indian Overseas Bank, Rajim Branch, District Gariyaband (C.G.), during the period from 02.12.2022 to 09.02.2023, allegedly misappropriated bank and customer funds amounting to Rs. 1,65,44,000/- by creating forged jewellery loan accounts in the names of 17 customers. Through these fraudulent transactions, the applicant is alleged to have cheated the bank and siphoned off the funds. Consequently, an F.I.R. was registered against the applicant and others bearing Crime No. 01/2023, dated 06.07.2023, by the State Economic Offences Wing & Anti-Corruption Bureau, Raipur, under the sections mentioned above. After investigation, a charge-sheet was filed on 26.06.2025 under Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Amended), 2018, and under Sections 409, 467, 468, 471, 120-B, and 201 of the Indian Penal Code against the applicant and three other co-accused persons. 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 further submitted that after a departmental preliminary enquiry, the applicant was found guilty and was placed under suspension on 15.02.2023. Thereafter, a full-fledged departmental enquiry was conducted, and vide order dated 11.09.2024, the applicant was dismissed from service as a measure of punishment. He further submitted that three co-accused persons have already been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 23.07.2025, 3 08.08.2025 and 28.08.2025 passed in MCRC Nos. 5497/2025, 6277/2025 and 6789/2025, respectively, further the applicant has no previous criminal antecedent, the charge-sheet has been filed and he is in jail since 07.04.2025 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 in the present case. 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, the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the applicant, and the fact that the applicant is a lady with no previous criminal antecedents, and further considering the period of detention as she has been in jail since 07.04.2025, as well as the fact that three co-accused persons have already been granted bail by this Court vide orders dated 23.07.2025, 08.08.2025, and 28.08.2025 passed in MCRC Nos. 5497/2025, 6277/2025, and 6789/2025, respectively, and as the conclusion of the trial is likely to take some time, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in the present case. 7. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed. Let the applicant – Ankita Panigrahi, involved in Crime No. 01/2023, registered at Police Station – State Economic Offence Wing and Anti-Corrution Bureau, Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 4 13(1)(a) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 along with Prevention of Corruption Act (Amendment Act 2018) and Section 409 of Indian Penal Code, be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond with two local sureties in the like sum to the satisfaction of the court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law. (ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against his under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate 5 proceedings against his, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 351 of BNSS. If in the opinion of the trial court absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against his in accordance with law. 8. 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