1 2025:CGHC:60437 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 1954 of 2025 Sanket Rakesh Rao Yerpude S/o Rakesh Rao Aged About 20 Years R/o- Plot No. - 52, Jai Mahakali Nagar, Besa, Nagpur, District- Nagpur (Maharashtra) ... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Officer In Charge, P.S. Chhuriya, District Rajnandgaon C.G. ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Shyam Kumar, Advocate. For Respondent(s) : Ms. Shubha Shrivastava, Panel Lawyer. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order On Board 11/12/2025 1. The applicant has preferred this application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), for grant of anticipatory bail, apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.193/2025, registered at Police Station Chhuriya, AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN Digitally signed by AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN 2 District Rajnandgaon (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Section 310(2) of BNS. 2. As per the case of the prosecution, the complainant Tanaji Vyankat Jadhav, a pig farmer, reported that on 07.08.2025 he sent 50 pigs worth Rs.2,25,000/- in his Bolero pickup (MH-55-C-0193) with the driver and two relatives to Bilaspur. Around 2:00 a.m. near Chichola, a Scorpio vehicle signaled them to stop. About 7–8 unknown persons forcibly made them get out, took control of the Bolero with the pigs, and drove it towards Dongargarh. The remaining accused kept the driver and relative confined in the Scorpio for nearly two hours before abandoning them near Makkatola. When they returned to the Bolero, all 50 pigs and three mobile phones had been looted. Based on this report, Crime No. 193/2025 under Section 310(2) BNS was registered. During investigation, the police traced the accused through call details and cyber-tracking. Accused Bhupesh Manikpuri, Raju Nishad, Govinda Gorai, Rahul Dhurve, and Chaman Manikpuri were arrested, and from them the police recovered the vehicles used in the crime, two mobile phones, and Rs.50,000/- from the looted amount. Other accused persons, including Dinesh Manikpuri, Shubham Chutelkar, Rahul Chutelkar, and Sankeet Tirupude, are absconding and being searched. Hence, the bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the case only on the basis of the co- accused’s memorandum, without any independent evidence 3 linking him to the alleged offence. No witness statement or material on record directly implicates the applicant. He further submits that during investigation, the Cyber Cell identified several suspicious mobile numbers active at the spot, but none of these numbers is registered in the applicant’s name or connected to him in any manner. Hence, there is no electronic or technical evidence to show his presence or involvement in the incident. Hence he prays to enlarge the applicant on anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposed the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail and submits that the applicant is alleged to be part of a group of 7–8 persons who intercepted the Bolero pickup near Chichola, forcibly removed the occupants, and looted 50 pigs worth Rs.2,25,000/- along with three mobile phones, the applicant is accused of participating in the dacoity by stopping the vehicle, taking control of it, and escaping with the stolen livestock and property. He further submits that the anticipatory bail application of co-accused, Dinesh Manikpuri has already been rejected by this Court vide order dated 17.11.2025 in MCRCA No.1793 of 2025, therefore, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant deserves to be rejected. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the materials available on record. 6. Taking into consideration the nature of allegation made against the present applicant that the applicant is alleged to be part of a 4 group of 7–8 persons who intercepted the Bolero pickup near Chichola, forcibly removed the occupants, and looted 50 pigs worth Rs.2,25,000/- along with three mobile phones, further considering the fact that the anticipatory bail application of co- accused, Dinesh Manikpuri has already been rejected by this Court vide order dated 17.11.2025 in MCRCA No.1793 of 2025, as such, I am not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant. 7. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant - Sanket Rakesh Rao Yerpude, involved in Crime No.193/2025, registered at Police Station Chhuriya, District Rajnandgaon (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Section 310(2) of BNS, is rejected. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Akhil