1 2026:CGHC:6534 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 10409 of 2025 Shailendra Sonpakar S/o - Manuj Kapoor Murat Aged About 24 Years (As Per Chargsheet And Cause Title Of Deposition Of Witnesses Examined Before Trial Court), R/o - Village - Odari, Police Station - Sonhat, District - Korea (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station - Baikunthpur, District - Korea (C.G.). Wrongly Mentioned In Order As Manendragarh-Chirmiri- Bharatpur (C.G.) ... Respondent For Applicant : Mr. Pawan Shrivastava, Advocate For Respondent/State : Mr. Afroz Khan, P.L. Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal Order On Board 05.02.2026 1. Despite service of notice, the victim has not connected through virtual mode from the concerned DLSA. 2. This is the first bail application filed u/s 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No.385/2024 BHOLA NATH KHATAI Digitally signed by BHOLA NATH KHATAI Date: 2026.02.06 11:53:33 +0530 2 registered at Police Station Baikunthpur, District Korea (CG) for offence punishable under Sections 137(2), 87, 64(2)(m) of BNS and Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. 3. As per the prosecution case, the applicant knowing well that the victim was a minor, yet he took her with him to Ambikapur, where he rented a room and repeatedly committed sexual intercourse with her under the pretext of marriage. On report being lodged in this regard, the applicant was arrested on 19.02.2025. 4. Learned counsel for applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. The victim has been examined before the trial Court and she has not supported the case of prosecution and turned hostile. He submits that the victim was a consenting party and she went with the applicant of her own free will. He further submits that out of total 25 witness, only 2 witnesses i.e. the victim and her father have been examined till date, the applicant is in jail since 19.02.2025 and there is no likelihood of the trial to be concluded at the earliest. Hence, considering all these facts, the applicant may be released on bail. 5. Learned State counsel, on the other hand, opposing the bail application submits that the victim was minor at the time of incident and considering the nature of offence, the applicant does not deserve to be released on bail. 6. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 3 7. Taking into consideration the entire facts and circumstances of the case, particularly the court statement of the victim and also considering the facts that there are total 25 witnesses, out of which only 2 witnesses i.e. the victim and her father have been examined so far, the applicant is in jail since 19.02.2025 and there is all possibility of the trial taking considerable time for its conclusion, this Court is of the opinion that a case for grant of bail to the applicant has been made out. 8. Accordingly, the application for grant of bail is allowed. It is directed that the present Applicant shall be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court. The applicant is directed to appear before the trial Court on each and every date to be given to him by the said Court till completion of the trial. 9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information. Sd/- (Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) Khatai JUDGE