1 2025:CGHC:56464 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 8500 of 2025 Vishal Paikra S/o Shri Ajay Singh Paikra Aged About 28 Years R/o Ward No. 3, Rajpur, Police Station And Tehsil Rajpur, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through - The Station House OfÏcer Rajpur, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Raghvendra Pradhan, Advocate For Non-Applicant/State : Ms. Supriya Upasne, Govt. Advocate. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 19.11.2025 1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 157/2025 registered at Police Station Rajpur, District – Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 317(2), 317(4), 317(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. According to the prosecution story, the applicant allegedly used his personal bank accounts in the State Bank of India, Central Bank of India, and Union Bank of India to receive and transfer amounts obtained ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Digitally signed by ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Date: 2025.11.21 11:02:52 +0530 2 through online financial frauds (cybercrime). It is alleged that, in connivance with co-accused Ashish Verma, the applicant received a total amount of Rs. 9,45,787/- in his accounts, knowing that the said amount was obtained by cheating, and that he withdrew some part of the said amount in cash and transferred it to the co-accused. Based on these allegations, Crime No. 157/2025 was registered at Police Station Rajpur, District Balrampur–Ramanujganj (C.G.), and the police arrested the present applicant and subsequently filed the charge-sheet before the concerned trial Court. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the present applicant is an innocent person and has been falsely implicated in the present case. The prosecution has framed a false case and concocted a fabricated story against the applicant. He further submits that the applicant is not a member of any gang or organized group involved in financial frauds. He is engaged in vehicle-washing work at Rajpur and occasionally assists local customers in small cash withdrawals, without having any knowledge of the source of the deposits made by such customers. The applicant has neither committed nor participated in any act that may constitute any of the offences mentioned above. He submits that no incriminating article, device, or instrument of offence has been seized from the possession of the applicant. The entire case is based merely on presumptions arising out of money transactions in the applicant’s bank accounts. He further submits that the present applicant has no criminal antecedents and he is in jail since 08.07.2025, conclusion of the trial may take some time, therefore, he prays for grant of regular bail to the applicant. 4. On the other hand, the learned State Counsel opposes the bail application of the applicant and submits that the offence alleged against the applicant involves a serious economic crime related to organized 3 cyber fraud, which poses a grave threat to public trust in the financial system. He further submits that in compliance with this Hon’ble Court’s order dated 28.10.2025, the Investigating OfÏcer of the aforesaid case submitted that on the instructions of the Police Headquarters, Chhattisgarh, and pursuant to the letter dated 04.07.2025 issued by the Superintendent of Police, Balrampur–Ramanujganj, information regarding transactions in the bank accounts operated by the present accused–applicant, Vishal Paikra, in the State Bank of India, Central Bank of India, and Union Bank of India, was obtained from the concerned Bank Managers. On verification, it was observed that Rs. 2,11,868/- in SBI Account No. 34388388293, Rs. 6,67,502/- in Central Bank of India Account No. 4023420634, and Rs. 66,471/- in Union Bank Account No. 791602010001648, totaling Rs. 9,45,787/-, were proceeds of online fraud, and illegal transactions had been carried out by the accused. During investigation, it was found that the accused–applicant, in connivance with his associate Ashish Verma, resident of Manendragarh (Mobile No. 9340984987), received fraudulent amounts in the aforesaid bank accounts, knowing fully well that the said property had been dishonestly obtained through fraudulent means. The applicant was found to be habitually receiving such amounts and had reason to believe that they were proceeds of crime. It was further revealed that he had provided his bank accounts to the said gang for use in cybercrime for earning illegal money. The accused used the accounts in SBI, Central Bank of India, and Union Bank of India, Rajpur Branch, withdrew half of the amount received in each transaction in cash, and handed it over to co- accused Ashish Verma. Thus, both accused persons were found involved in the offences under the aforesaid provisions of the BNS, 2023, and a crime was registered against them. During investigation, the 4 statement of the applicant was recorded wherein he allegedly admitted that he had committed the offence in connivance with Ashish Verma and had received a share of the money in return for permitting the use of his bank accounts. It further came to light during investigation, through the statement under Section 161 CrPC of witness Rahul Kumar Kashyap, owner of Grahak Seva Kendra, that he had transferred money from his PhonePe account to accused Ashish Verma on the instructions of the present applicant. A self-attested screenshot of the PhonePe transaction forms part of the charge-sheet. During the investigation, one mobile phone (OPPO), the Aadhaar card, ATM cards of the aforesaid bank accounts, and passbooks of three bank accounts were seized from the accused applicant in the presence of witnesses. It was also revealed that the accused–applicant, along with Ashish Verma, had formed an organized gang and had provided his three bank accounts for use in online frauds. It further came to notice that the applicant was well acquainted with the co-accused persons, due to which his bank accounts were taken and used in a planned manner for receiving and handling the proceeds of cybercrime. The prosecution claims that if the accused– applicant is released on bail, he is likely to abscond, adversely affect the investigation, and may again form a gang and indulge in cyber fraud, which may create resentment in society. On the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, two victims have lodged complaints regarding the cyber fraud committed through the bank accounts of the present applicant. Complaint Acknowledgement No. 31107230094469 was filed by complainant Mehual Bhatt of Naroda, District Ahmedabad City, Gujarat, and Complaint Acknowledgement No. 31112240209314 was filed by complainant Pandya Parth of Vastrapur, District Ahmedabad City, Gujarat. The present accused–applicant was arrested on 21.07.2025 in 5 connection with Crime No. 157/2025 registered at Police Station Rajpur, District Balrampur–Ramanujganj (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Sections 111, 317(2), 317(4), and 317(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, therefore, looking to the seriousness of the case, the applicant is not entitled for grant of regular bail in the present case. 5. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and further the fact that the allegations against the applicant are of serious nature involving organized cybercrime and financial fraud, therefore, I am not inclined to grant regular bail to the present applicant. 7. Accordingly, the bail application of the applicant - Vishal Paikra, involved in Crime No. 157/2025 registered at Police Station Rajpur, District – Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 317(2), 317(4), 317(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, is rejected. 8. Needless to say that the trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed and conclude the trial expeditiously. 9. OfÏce 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 Abhishek