1 2025:CGHC:14882 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 1477 of 2025 Pradeep Singh Thakur S/o Late Ramnaresh Singh Aged About 51 Years R/o Ward No.- 04, Ayodhya Nagar, Mahasamund, Police Station Mahasamund, District- Mahasamund (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station-Dondhi District- Balod (C.G.) ... Respondent For Applicant : Mr. Mohd. Afroz Akhar, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Mr. U.K.S. Chandel, Dy, A.G. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 27.03.2025 1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 54/2024 registered at Police Station VAIBHAV SINGH Digitally signed by VAIBHAV SINGH Date: 2025.03.29 11:18:13 +0530 2 Dondhi, District Balod (C.G.) under Sections 420 read with Section 34 of IPC Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. As per the prosecution story- FIR No. 54/2024 was registered U/s 420 r/w section 34 of IPC in the Police Station-Dondhi, District Balod (CG) against Accused Madar Khan, Harendra Netam and Pradeep Thakur (Applicant herein) on the written complaint of Complainant Chandar Singh wherein it was alleged that the above named accused person had taken around Rs 3,70,00,000 (Three Crore and seventy Lac) from 70 different persons on the pretext of providing Govt. Job in the Forest Department by making those 70 persons believe that the accused Madar Khan is the Nephew of Ex-Forest Minister Mohammad Akbar. 3. The learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submits that main accused person is Madar Khan. The allegation against the present applicant is documentary in nature, further, he has no criminal antecedents. He further submits that co-accused persons namely, Smt. Fatima Bi Khan and Mayank Netam @ Raja have already been granted bail by this Court on 03.12.2024 and 24.01.2025 passed in MCRC No.8406 and MCRC No.8/2025 respectively. He also submits that applicant is in jail since 27.09.2024 and 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 3 application of the present applicant, submitting that the applicant being impersonating himself as officer, took the interview of the different persons on the pretext of providing govt. job and has committed cheating. Further, charge-sheet has been filed and looking to the seriousness of the offence, further the applicant is also involved in another case of identical nature bearing Crime No.53/2024 and the bail application i.e. MCRC No.1369/2025 of the applicant has been rejected by this Court, thus, the applicant is not entitled for grant of regular bail. 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 looking to the nature and gravity of the offence, particularly that the applicant impersonating himself as an officer, took the interview of the victims on pretext of providing govt. job, the applicant is also involved in another case of identical nature bearing MCRC No.1369/2025 and the same has been rejected by this Court, and the co-accused who were granted bail, their case was distinguishable from that of the present applicant, therefore, this Court is of the opinion that it is not a fit case to enlarge the applicant on bail. 7. Accordingly, the first bail application of the applicant – Pradeep Singh Thakur, involved in Crime No. 54/2024 registered at Police Station Dondhi, District Balod, (C.G.) under Sections 420 read 4 with 34 of the IPC, is rejected. 8. Office 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 Vaibhav