1 2025:CGHC:50649 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 1561 of 2025 1 - Devchand Sahu S/o Tiharu Ram Sahu Aged About 35 Years R/o Singhori, Post Office- Bazar Atariya, Tehsil- Khairagarh, District- Khairagarh Chhuikhadan Gandai (C.G.) (Wrongly Mentioned As Khairagarh In The Covering Memo Of The Impugned Order) ... Applicant Versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through P.S.- Dhamdha, District Durg (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Ms. Aditi Singhvi, Advocate For Non-applicant : Mr. Hariom Rai, Panel Lawyer SB : Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 10.10.2025 1. This first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No. 153/2025 registered at Police Station – Dhamdha, District – Durg (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. 2. Case of prosecution case in brief is that the complainant i.e. Block Education Officer, Durg lodged a complaint in the concerned police station alleging that the applicant who is the Director of SHUBHAM DEY Digitally signed by SHUBHAM DEY 2 Prerna Public School had given admission to the students by manipulating their date of birth and surname in the school records, so that they can participate in the admission process of Navodaya Vidyalaya for the second time which is impermissible as per the norms of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. Based on the report, aforementioned offences were registered and the investigation was commenced. Hence, the bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant would submit that the applicant is innocent and has falsely been implicated in the crime in question. She further submits that the details of students are filled up in the school records as per the information supplied by their respective parents. In the present case, the information has been recorded for the students which are respectively provided by their parents and thus, there is no infirmity on the part of present applicant. She submits that the applicant is the Director of the school and the admissions of students are done under the aegis of the Principal of the school and all the documents bear the signature of the Principal and not the present applicant. She further submits that the parents of the applicants have made wrongful declarations in the forms filled for the students for admission in Navodaya Vidyalaya. The school of the applicant has been imposed a maximum fine of Rs. 1,00,000/- by the State Government under Section 16 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2006 which was paid by the applicant 3 vide chalan dated 18.07.2025. There is no direct role of the applicant, hence, he may be enlarged on bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel has opposed 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, submissions of learned counsel for the parties, nature of dispute and material available in case diary, the fact that the applicant’s school has been imposed fine of Rs. 1,00,000/- by the State Government which has also been paid vide challan dated 18.07.2025, without further commenting anything on merits, this Court find it appropriate to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant – Devchand Sahu, on executing a personal bond with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) He 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) He shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) He shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the said Court till 4 disposal of the trial. (d) The applicant and the surety 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) He shall not involve himself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Dey