1 2026:CGHC:671 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 13 of 2026 1 - K. Vanshi Soni S/o Shri Raju Soni Aged About 22 Years R/o Thethwar Para, Distt. Durg, Chhattisgarh. 2 - K. Shubham Soni S/o Shri Raju Soni Aged About 20 Years R/o Distt. Durg, Chhattisgarh. ... Applicants versus 1 - State of Chhattisgarh Through Range Cyber Police Station, Distt. Raipur, Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent (Cause title is taken from Case Information System) For Applicants : Mr. Harshal Chouhan, Advocate For Respondent/State : Mr. Dharmesh Shrivastava, Dy.A.G. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 06.01.2026 1. The applicants have preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as they have been arrested in connection with Crime No.44/2025 registered at Cyber Police Station, District - Raipur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111 and 3(5) of the BNS. 2. The prosecution story, in brief, is that he Government of India has established the "Cyber Crime Reporting Portal" and the "1930 VAISHALI LUCKY NAGARIA Digitally signed by VAISHALI LUCKY NAGARIA Date: 2026.01.07 17:53:29 +0530 2 Helpline Number" for the prevention of cyber offences, through which victims can report incidents of cyber fraud. Based on the information received through this system, it came to light that a total of 104 bank accounts were opened in Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, Civil Lines Branch, Raipur (IFSC Code: UTKS0001400), which were being used for receiving proceeds of cyber fraud. On the basis of this information and as per the directions issued by the Police Headquarters, Crime No. 44/2025 under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111, and 3(5) of the BNS was registered at Police Station Civil Lines, Raipur against the said 104 bank account holders, and during the investigation of the case was the Range Cyber Police Station, Raipur found that some of the sim cards registered with the accounts were issued by the present applicants while working as a POS (Point of Sale) and agent of Airtel Mobile Company. These bank accounts have been identified as "mule accounts," which were allegedly used by cyber criminals for transferring fraudulently obtained money. The concerned Police registered the case against the applicants. Hence, this bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants have been falsely implicated in the case. It is further submitted that a similarly situated co-accused, namely Harmeet Singh @ Yashmit, Saurabh Pal and Tanishq Singh Bhatia and Shubham Singh Thakur, have already been enlarged on bail by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) Nos. 15006/2025, 12849/2025, 15613/2025 and 17452/2025 vide order dated 19.11.2025, respectively, and on the same ground the co-accused namely Om Arya has been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 27.11.2025 passed in MCRC Nos. 9388/2025, and other co-accused have also 3 been granted bail by this Court on the same ground in MCRC Nos.10383/2025, 10437/2025, 10402/2025, 10389/2025, 10435/2025, 10434/2025, 10414/2025, 10413/2025, 10410/2025, 10403/2025, 10399/2025, 10393/2025, 10390/2025 and 10385/2025 on 19.12.2025. In view of the principle of parity, learned counsel prays that the applicants may also be enlarged on bail. 4. On the other hand, the learned State counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in this case. It is further submitted that the information was received through cyber crime reporting portal coordination that 104 bank accounts have been opened in Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Branch Civil Lines Raipur IFSC Code UTKS0001400 which are being used to received money from cyber fraud, as per the instruction received from Police Headquarters, a letter along with the details of the above incident was sent to Civil Lines Police Station, Raipur (C.G.), thereafter the FIR was registered against 104 bank accounts holder including the applicant and the applicant was arrested by the Police of concerned Police Station concerned, therefore, they are not entitled for grant of bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused all of the documents available on record. 6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of allegation levelled against the applicants and the fact that the charge-sheet has been filed against the applicant, and further the fact that a similarly situated co-accused, namely Harmeet Singh @Yashmit, Saurabh Pal and Tanishq Singh Bhatia and Shubham Singh Thakur, have already been enlarged on bail by 4 the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) Nos. 15006/2025, 12849/2025, 15613/2025 and 17452/2025 vide order dated 19.11.2025, respectively, and on the same ground the co-accused namely Om Arya has been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 27.11.2025 passed in MCRC Nos. 9388/2025, and other co-accused have also been granted bail by this Court on the same ground in MCRC Nos.10383/2025, 10437/2025, 10402/2025, 10389/2025, 10435/2025, 10434/2025, 10414/2025, 10413/2025, 10410/2025, 10403/2025, 10399/2025, 10393/2025, 10390/2025 and 10385/2025 on 19.12.2025. 7. In view of the principle of parity and considering the submissions that the applicants have been falsely implicated, this Court is of the view that the applicants are also entitled to the benefit of bail. While the offences alleged are serious, the applicants' release on bail shall be subject to appropriate conditions to ensure that the trial proceeds without obstruction and that the applicant does not influence witnesses or tamper with evidence. Accordingly, the instant second bail application of the applicants are allowed. 8. Let applicants, K. Vanshi and K. Shubham Soni involved in Crime No.44/2025 registered at Range Cyber Police Station District - Raipur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111 and 3(5) of the BNS, 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 5 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 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 concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice vaishali