1 2026:CGHC:20962 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 669 of 2026 Lalit Satnami S/o. Shri Bohrit Satnami Aged About 28 Years R/o. Village - Sarvani, Police Station -Kotra Road, Distt. - Raigarh (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House OfÏcer, Police Station - Kotra Road, District - Raigarh (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Sunil Sahu, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Ms. Smriti Shrivastava, Panel Lawyer Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 05.05.2026 1. This first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No. 108/2026 registered at Police Station Kotra Road, District - Raigarh, (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 4, 6 of the Chhattisgarh Agricultural Cattles Preservation Act 2004, and under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. 2. As per the prosecution’s case, in brief is that on 06.04.2026, the police of Police Station Kotra Road, District Raigarh, received KUNAL DEWANGAN Digitally signed by KUNAL DEWANGAN 2 secret information to the effect that cattle were being illegally transported in a Scorpio vehicle bearing registration No. CG-13-D- 0941 from village Sarvani to Raigarh. Acting upon the said information, the police intercepted and searched the vehicle, allegedly seizing six cattle therefrom. During the course of investigation, the memorandum statement of co-accused Maksood was recorded, wherein he stated that the said cattle had been loaded on the instructions of the vehicle owner, Jahangir, by the present applicant. On the basis of the said statement and seizure, the police registered an FIR against the present applicant and initiated steps to arrest him in connection with the alleged commission of the offence. Hence, the present anticipatory bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has not committed any offence as alleged and has been falsely implicated solely on the basis of the memorandum statement of the co- accused. It is contended that the seizure of cattle was effected from the possession of co-accused Maksood, who was arrested, and in his memorandum statement he merely named the present applicant, despite the applicant having no involvement in the alleged transportation. The applicant is a daily wage labourer, and on the date of the incident, the co-accused had purchased certain cattle from village Sarvani and engaged the applicant only for the purpose of loading the cattle into the vehicle, for which he was paid wages, beyond this, the applicant had no knowledge of the purpose for which the cattle were being transported. It is further submitted 3 that the applicant is the sole earning member of his family, and his wife is seven months pregnant, and in the event of his arrest, there would be no one to take care of her. It is also submitted that the applicant has no previous criminal antecedents. Hence, it is prayed that the applicant be granted anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel, appearing for the non - applicant/State, opposes the submission made by the learned counsel for the applicant and submits that the present applicant is directly implicated in the commission of the offence, as his involvement has surfaced from the memorandum statement of co- accused Maksood, who has specifically stated that the cattle were loaded in the vehicle at the instance of the present applicant on the instructions of the vehicle owner. It is further submitted that the applicant’s role is not merely that of a labourer, but he has actively participated in the illegal transportation of cattle, which were being carried in a cruel and unlawful manner, thereby attracting the relevant penal provisions. Hence, considering the seriousness of the offence and the material available on record, the applicant is not entitled to the discretionary relief and the application for grant of anticipatory bail deserves to be rejected. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature of allegations and the material available on record, it appears that the alleged seizure of six cattle has been effected from the possession 4 of the co-accused Maksood, and the present applicant has not been apprehended from the spot. The implication of the applicant is primarily based on the memorandum statement of the co-accused, wherein his name has been disclosed, which by itself has limited evidentiary value at this stage. It is also pertinent that the applicant is stated to be a labourer who was allegedly engaged only for loading the cattle and there is no material on record to prima facie establish his conscious involvement in the alleged illegal transportation. Further, the applicant has no previous criminal antecedents. Therefore, this Court is of the considered opinion that the applicant deserves to be enlarged on anticipatory bail. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant – Lalit Satnami on executing a personal bond and one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting OfÏcer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such fact to the Court. (b) The applicant shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) The applicant shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial. 5 (d) The applicant and the surety shall submit a copy of his adhaar card along with a coloured postcard full size photo having printed the adhaar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court. (e) The applicant shall not involve himself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Kunal