1 2026:CGHC:7176 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 896 of 2026 1 - Pancharam Khunte S/o Late Nandaram Khunte Aged About 62 Years R/o Village Bhauwakapa, Police Station Kota, District Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Applicant versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer Kota, Police Station Kota, District Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Respondent For Applicant : Mr. Manoj Kumar Yadav, Adv. For Respondent/State : Mr. Sumit Singh, Dy. A.G. Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal Order On Board 09/02/2026 1. The applicant has preferred this first bail application under Section 483 of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Act, 2023 for grant of regular bail as he is arrested in connection with Crime No.828/2025, registered at Police Station – Kota, District- Bilaspur (C.G.) for offence punishable under Sections 302, 201, 404, 34 of IPC 2. As per the prosecution’s case, on 17.05.2022, merg intimation of death of George Michael has been received at the concerned police station. The informant stated that the deceased lived alone in his own house. Yesterday, on HEERA LAL SAHU Digitally signed by HEERA LAL SAHU Date: 2026.02.10 10:15:59 +0530 2 16.05.2022, at about 8:00 PM, Ashutosh Dewangan saw him returning home on his Activa scooter. Today, 17.05.2022, at about 11:00 AM, Bablu Khet went inside the house and found George Michael lying dead on the bed. He informed the police via mobile phone. Police from Shahdol and Kota went to George Michael Isaac's house and found the deceased lying dead on the bed on the bed due to unknown reasons. Blood was coming out of his nose and mouth, and his body had turned black. The informant stated that his younger brother, George Michael, died between 8:00 PM on May 16, 2022, and 11:00 AM on May 17, 2022, due to unknown reasons. A case of unnatural death was registered, and inquest proceedings were initiated. After the inquest, a postmortem examination was conducted. The postmortem report did not specify the exact cause of death, and the viscera were preserved and sent to the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) in Bilaspur. The viscera report indicated the presence of ethyl alcohol and aluminum phosphide. The deceased's brother, George Harriel, filed a complaint against the accused before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Kota, Bilaspur. The complaint was received by the Kota Police Station for investigation. The Kota Police Station sent the investigation report to the Court concerned. Based on the court's order, an FIR was registered against the accused, Sanjay Khute alias Bablu Khunte, Chaiti Bai Khute, and Panchram Khunte/present applicant, under Sections 302, 201, 404, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, and the case was taken up for investigation. After the completion of the investigation, a charge sheet was filed. 3. 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 there is no 3 memorandum statements and also no seizure from the present applicant. The applicant is in jail since 17.09.2025, and the trial is likely to take time to be finalized. Therefore, it is prayed that the applicant may be enlarged on bail. 4. Per contra, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the State opposes the bail application and submits that there are a total of 3 accused persons in this case, the applicant, along with other co-accused persons, hatched a conspiracy of murder, who have a motive to commit the said offence. Charges have not framed yet, and the important witness, namely, George Herial Isaac, brother of the deceased, has not examined yet as the trial has not commenced; therefore, at this stage, looking to the gravity of the offence, the applicant may not be released on bail. 5. I have heard learned Counsel appearing for the parties and perused the material available on record. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, and overall evidence collected by the prosecution against the applicant, and also looking to the gravity of the offence and considering that the important witnesses have yet to examine as the trial has not commenced yet, at this stage, without commenting on the merits of the case, I am not inclined to release the applicant on bail. Accordingly, the bail application filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, is rejected. 7. Office is directed to sent a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) Judge H.L. Sahu