1 2026:CGHC:8306 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 1207 of 2026 1 - Ravishankar @ Bhagat S/o Suresh, Aged About 30 Years, R/o Village Chaenpur, Police Station- Kusmi, District Balrampur Ramanujganj C.G. ... Applicant versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Of Police Station- Kusmi, District Balrampur Ramanujganj C.G. ... Respondent For Applicant : Mr. Amarnath Pandey, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Mr. Sumit Singh, Dy.A.G. Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal Order on Board 16 / 02 / 2026 1. The accused/applicant has moved this third bail application under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 for releasing him on regular bail during trial in connection with Crime No. 117/2023 registered at Police Station – Kusmi, District – Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 302 of IPC (as per FIR). 2. The first bail application of the applicant was rejected on merits by this Court vide order dated 14.07.2025 in MCRC No.4867/2025, and the second bail application was dismissed SOURABH PATEL Digitally signed by SOURABH PATEL Date: 2026.02.16 18:22:02 +0530 2 as withdrawn by this Court vide order dated 25.09.2025 in MCRC No. 7480/2025. 3. The prosecution story, in short, is that the complainant lodged a report at Police Station Kusmi stating that on 06.11.2023, his daughter had gone to attend the village fair at Umko and did not return home by evening. Despite inquiries made in the neighborhood and among relatives, her whereabouts could not be ascertained. During the investigation, the dead body of the missing girl was found in a mutilated condition on 13.11.2023 in the forest area of Karmi Katari Kona village. During the inquest, the cause of death was found to be homicidal in nature. Accordingly, a crime was registered against an unknown person. During the course of investigation, the accused Ravishankar alias Bhagat was interrogated and his memorandum statement was recorded. The auto-rickshaw used in the commission of the offence was seized. Based on the above, an offence has been registered against the applicant. 4. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the crime in question. He further submits that the FLS report is negative and only an auto-rickshaw has been seized from him. He further submits all the important witnesses including father of the deceased have been examined and have not stated anything against the applicant. The applicant has no criminal antecedents and has been in jail since 25.03.2025 and the trial is likely to take considerable time to conclude, therefore, the present applicant may be released on bail. 3 5. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State opposes the bail application and submits that out of 22 witnesses only 09 have been examined till date and several important witnesses remain to be examined, therefore, at this stage, he should not be enlarged on bail. 6. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the offence, the material collected and available on record against the applicant and the fact that out of 22 witnesses, only 09 have been examined till date and and some important witnesses are still remaining for examination, at this stage, I am not inclined to release the applicant on bail. 8. Accordingly, the bail application filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 is rejected. 9. However, considering the fact that the applicant is in jail since 25.03.2025 i.e., about 10 months 22 days. It is an exceptional case, therefore, concerned trial Court is directed to expedite the trial as early as possible preferably within a period of 04 months from the date of receipt of copy of this order. 10. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) Judge Sourabh P.