1 2025:CGHC:51369 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 8223 of 2025 Madar Khan @ Salim Khan S/o Late Shri Nazim Khan Aged About 53 Years R/o Village- Dutkaiya, Thana And Tahsil- Rajim, Distt- Gariyaband ( C.G. ). ... Applicant(s) versus The State Of Chhattisgarh Through- The Station House Officer, Police Station- Doundi, Distt- Balod ( C.G. ). ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Sunil Sahu, Advocate. For Respondent(s) : Mr. S.S. Baghel, Dy. G.A. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 15.10.2025 1. The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN Digitally signed by AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN 2 connection with Crime No. 54/2024, registered at Police Station Doundi, Distt- Balod (CG) for the offence punishable under Sections 420/34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 2. The prosecution story in brief, is that between 23.08.2023 and 01.07.2024, the co-accused, Harendra Kumar Netam, along with present applicant, defrauded people of Rs.3.70 crore by promising them jobs as Forest Guards in the Raipur Ministry, Forest Department for the year 2022. The applicant and co-accused collected money from 70 victims, including Rs.4,50,000 from the complainant Chander Singh, which was routed through co- accused Harendra Netam and Madar Khan, exploiting personal connections. Based on these complaints, a case was registered, investigation was conducted, and the charge sheet was filed before the competent court. Hence, the bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submits that the allegation against the applicant is that he fraudulently collected money from seventy different persons on the pretext of securing them jobs in the Forest Department, falsely claiming to be a former Forest Minister. He also submits that the applicant was wanted in case crime No.53 of 2024 for the offence punishable under Section 108 and 3(5) of BNS along with other persons and was granted bail in the said case by this court vide order dated 08.08.2025 in MCRC No.6281 of 2025 and after 3 being released on bail, he was arrested in the present case, so far as the status of trial is concerned, out of 87 witnesses the statement of only 1 witness has been recorded. The applicant is in jail since 27.09.2024 and the applicant has 18 criminal antecedents, out of which, only four cases are pending against him, which are under the IPC, further the trial is likely to take some time for its conclusion. Therefore, he prays for grant of bail to the applicant. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case before the competent Court. He further submits that the applicant along with co-accused, defrauded multiple persons of Rs.3.70 crore by falsely promising them Forest Department jobs in Raipur. He allegedly collected money from 70 victims and, in coordination with co-accused, misappropriated the funds, playing a central role in the large-scale fraudulent scheme, so far as criminal antecedents of the applicant are concerned applicant has 18 criminal antecedents, therefore, the applicant is not entitled for grant of bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. From perusal of the records, it prima facie appears that between 23.08.2023 and 01.07.2024, the applicant alongwith co-accused, Harendra Kumar Netam defrauded victims, including the 4 complainant Chander Singh, by promising jobs as Forest Guards in the Raipur Ministry, Forest Department for the year 2022. They collected money through intermediaries, including Rs.4,50,000 from the complainant, and in total, approximately Rs.3.70 crore was obtained from 70 different victims under the pretext of employment, also considering the criminal antecedents of the applicant, the applicant has 18 criminal antecedents of identical nature, though most of the cases, either the applicant has been acquitted or the cases have been disposed of. So far as the status of trial is concerned, out of 87 witnesses, the statement of 01 witness has been recorded, but considering the applicant’s active involvement along with co-accused in orchestrated the large-scale fraud, this Court is of the opinion that it is not a fit case to enlarge the applicant on regular bail. 7. Accordingly, the bail application of applicant-Madar Khan @ Salim Khan, involved in Crime No. 54/2024, registered at Police Station Doundi, Distt- Balod (CG) for the offence punishable under Sections 420/34 of the Indian Penal Code, is rejected. 8. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Akhil