1 2026:CGHC:326 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 10431 of 2025 Pramildas Manikpuri S/o Kapildas Manikpuri, Aged About 53 Years R/o Village Podi, Police Station Seepat, District Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Seepat, District Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Praveen Kumar Sharma, Advocate. For Respondent(s) : Mr. Priyank Rathi, Government Advocate. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 05/01/2026 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. 154/2025 registered at Police Station Seepat, District Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 420, 34 of the Indian Penal Code. AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN Digitally signed by AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN 2 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 19.03.2025, the complainant Smt. Gayatri Suryavanshi lodged a report at Police Station Sipat, District Bilaspur, alleging that during 2022–2023, the accused Pramil Das Manikpuri and his wife Ranjana Manikpuri induced her and other village women to take bank loans in their names on the false promise of village development works, assuring that the loans would be repaid from government funds. Believing the assurances, loans were obtained from various banks, documents and passbooks were taken by the accused, and the loan amounts were misappropriated. A total amount of about Rs.51.87 lakh was allegedly cheated, while the loan liabilities were left upon the complainant and other women. Accordingly, Crime No. 154/2025 was registered under Sections 420 and 34 IPC. Hence, the bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has not committed any offence and he has been falsely implicated in offence in question. He further submits that the present applicant, along with his wife, has been made an accused in the present case. The bail application of the co-accused wife, namely, Ranjana Manikuri, was earlier rejected by this Court, against which she preferred Criminal Appeal No. 5232/2025 @ SLP (Crl.) No. 16542/2025 before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, wherein she has been granted bail. The applicant is in jail since 21.03.2025, the applicant has no criminal antecedent, charge-sheet has been filed and the trial is likely to take some time for its conclusion. 3 Therefore, he prays for grant of bail to the applicant. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case. He further submits that the applicant in conspiracy with his wife Ranjana Manikpuri, falsely induced the complainant and other village women to take bank loans in their names on the pretext of village development works, assured repayment from government funds, misappropriated the loan amounts, and failed to repay the loans, thereby cheated the complainant and other women, therefore, present applicant is not entitled for grant of bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of offence, and the fact that though the applicant in conspiracy with his wife Ranjana Manikpuri, falsely induced the complainant and other village women to take bank loans in their names on the pretext of village development works, assured repayment from government funds, misappropriated the loan amounts, and failed to repay the loans, but considering the period of detention of the applicant i.e. since 21.03.2025, the fact that the applicant has no criminal antecedent and charge-sheet has been filed, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case. 4 7. Accordingly, the application is allowed. 8. Let the Applicant-Pramildas Manikpuri, involved in Crime No. 154/2025 registered at Police Station Seepat, District Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 420, 34 of the Indian Penal Code, be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond with two sureties in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law. (ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of 5 statement under Section 351 of BNSS. If in the opinion of the trial court absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against him in accordance with law. 9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Akhil