1 2025:CGHC:51859 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 1619 of 2025 1 - Anjana Bag @ Sanju W/o Kanhai Charan Bag Aged About 49 Years R/o Bangali Colony, Behind Ravi Shankar Shukla University, Kukurbeda, Raipur C.G. 2 - Vashisth Bharati S/o Daniram Bharati Aged About 35 Years R/o Amanaka, Kukurbeda, Raipur C.G. ... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Saraswati Nagar, Raipur District Raipur C.G. ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Malay Shrivastava, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Ms. Ankita Shukla, Panel Lawyer Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 17.10.2025 1. This first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the applicants, who are apprehending their arrest in connection with Crime No. 183/2025 registered at Police Station – Saraswati MANPREET KAUR Digitally signed by MANPREET KAUR Date: 2025.10.17 15:29:23 +0530 2 Nagar, Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 115(2), 189, 296, 298, 299, 351(2), 3(5) of the BNS and Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 1968. 2. The prosecution case is that the complainant, Hemlata Mahajan, lodged a written report alleging that the applicants visited her residence and pressurized her to convert from Hinduism to Christianity. It is further alleged that during the said incident, the applicants used derogatory language and abused Hindu Gods and Goddesses, thereby hurting the religious sentiments of the complainant. 3. Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants are innocent and have not committed any offence punishable under Sections 115(2), 189, 296, 298, 299, 351(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 1968. It is submitted that the applicants have been falsely implicated in the present case, as they have no connection whatsoever with the complainant or the alleged incident. The applicants belong to the Scheduled Caste community and are peace-loving individuals who were merely offering prayers in their own house, being followers of the Christian faith. It is further submitted that on 10.08.2025, while the applicants were engaged in worship and prayer, around 150 persons belonging to Bajrang Dal entered the premises of applicant No. 2, assaulted and abused the applicants, including women, children, and senior 3 citizens present there. No act of religious conversion took place in the said house. The applicants had even lodged a complaint before the police authorities regarding the said assault, on which an FIR was registered on 19.08.2025. It is lastly submitted that another FIR No. 184/2025 was registered against the applicants on the same set of facts and this Court vide order dated 10.10.2025 in MCRCA No. 1368 of 2025 have already granted anticipatory bail to the applicants. Hence, he prays for grant of bail to the applicants. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel, opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail to the applicants, but could not dispute the fact that another FIR No. 184/2025 was registered against the applicants on the same set of facts and this Court vide order dated 10.10.2025 in MCRCA No. 1368 of 2025 have already granted anticipatory bail to the applicants. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused all of the documents taken on record. 6. Considering the facts & circumstances of the case, submissions of learned counsel for the parties, nature of dispute and material available in case diary, and further the fact that another FIR No. 184/2025 was registered against the applicants on the same set of facts and this Court vide order dated 10.10.2025 in MCRCA No. 1368 of 2025 have already granted anticipatory bail to the applicants, as such, without further commenting anything on 4 merits, this Court deems it fit to grant benefit of anticipatory bail to the applicants. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicants – Anjana Bag @ Sanju and Vashisth Bharati, on executing a personal bond with one surety (each) in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, they shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) They should 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) They should not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) They should appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial. (d) The Applicants and the sureties shall submit a copy of their adhaar card alongwith a colored postcard full size photo having printed the adhaar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court. (e) They should not involve themselves in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Manpreet