1 2026:CGHC:6630 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 10164 of 2025 Pratap Patra S/o Shri Dhananjay Patra Aged About 33 Years R/o- 122/n Monohar Pukur Road, Kali Ghat, Post Office- Kali Ghat, District- Kolkata (West Bengal). ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Cyber Range, District Raipur C.G. ... Respondent For Applicant : Mr. Navin Shukla, Advocate For Respondent/State : Dr. Sourabh Kumar Pandey, Deputy Advocate General. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 0 5.02.2026 1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 4/2024 registered at Police Station – Cyber Range, District - Raipur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 420, 34 of IPC, 1860. 2. The prosecution story in brief is that, complainant Vikas Lahoti gave a written complaint at Police Station Cyber Police Thana Rangestating that on 27.04.2024 he received a WhatsApp message on his mobile PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2026.02.06 18:03:50 +0530 2 no. 9685860789 from a girl named Asna from mobile number 7015578579, who told him about share trading and also told him that she does this work along with Naresh Rathi. Both of them then told the complainant about the high profits he could earn from sharing trading, which led him to fall for their words. They then added him to the Avendus Stock Market Outlook- B108 WhatsApp group, which had approximately 150 members. All the members in the group were sharing messages screenshots bank details etc., regarding profit on share market. Then the complainant also downloaded Asamtop app by clicking on the link given by Asna for investing money in share market. Asana created an ID and password for the complainant to operate the app through which the complainant logged in. After that Asana asked him to invest money for share market trading through the appitself, he was asked to invest money for share trading in different bank accounts on different dates from 14.05.2024 to 11.06.2024 He deposited the amount from his Kotak Mahindra Bank account number 2213802068, 4311682801 branch Pandri and IDBI bank account no. 1706102000003865 branch Fafadih a total of Rs. 59,23,000/-. When the complainant attempted to withdraw Rs. 9,00,000/- the money after making a profit from his share trading investment, he wanted to withdraw Rs. 9,00,000/- instead of withdrawing the money to the IPO Majenda Life Care which he had filed a complaint about and when he questioned Asana about the same, he was told that his money was invested in the IPO of Majenda Life Care a total of 2,18,578 shares each priced at Rs. 35 /- for a total value of Rs. 76,50,230 /- and he would have to buy those Shares to receive the remaining shares he was then told to sell all these shares he owned first after selling them 3 all his profit and share value would be approximately 55,00,000/- fearing that his money was being lost he transferred a final amount of Rs. 21,00,000/- on June 10th and 11th. Whenever he tried to withdraw the money it would not be withdrawn and when he tried to sell the shares they would not sell. As Asana and Naresh Rathi deceived him for money amounting to rupees 59,23,000/- by luring him with the promise of profits in share trading. Based on the applicant's complaint the cyber police station Raipur Range registered crime number 4/2024 U/s 420 and 34 of the Indian panel code and took it up for investigation. During the investigation the Complainant Vikas Lahoti statement was recorded and information was obtained banks. Co accused Pradeep Kumar Jain, S/o- Hastimal Jain, Age- 48 years, Jaipur,account holder of Axis bank account no. 923020048747439 appeared at the police station after being served a notice under section 35(3) of the BNSS. A memorandum statement was recorded for accuse Pradeep Kumar Jain in which he had stated that he had given his account to Shiv Katiyar and Anuj at their request. He stated that they had given him rupees 50,000 in exchange for the bank account Which he has spent on his daily expenses and the account details, ATM and SIM lie with Shiv Kataria and Anuj. Present applicant namely Pratap Patra was interrogated and a memorandum statement was recorded in which he stated that he had given his bank account and Sim to one Varun Das and in return he had received Rs. 45,000/- at the rate of Rs.15,000/- per month for three months and the money has been spent by him on his daily needs and currently the account ATM and SIM are with Varun Das. Other accused/account holders/ mobile user and other persons involved in the present crime are being searched as the 4 investigation proceeds further. A charge sheet has been filed against the present applicant and one other co-accused person while continuing the investigation U/s 173(8) of the CrPC. On the basis of the written complaint by the complainant finding prima facie evidences against the applicant and other co-accused person offence U/s 420, 34 of IPC was registered and the matter was taken under investigation and after completion of the investigation final report bearing no. 01/2025 was prepared and the same was presented on 29.09.2025 before the concern trial Court. On the basis of the above background, offence has been registered against the present applicant and after completing the investigation, charge-sheet has been filed. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the applicant submits that the present applicant is innocent person and has been falsely implicated in the aforesaid case. He further submits that the applicant has never received any money from the complainant and the details of the applicant were misused and bank account was opened in his name and further no incriminating documents have been seized from the present applicant from which it can be proved that the said account was operated by the present applicant. He further submits that main accused person is absconding and the charge-sheet has been filed, the applicant is in jail since 09.08.2025 therefore, he prays for grant of regular bail to the present applicant. 4. On the other hand learned State counsel opposes the bail application of the present applicant and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case. She further submits that the applicant has sold three accounts for committing the online fraud. He further submits 5 that total amount of Rs.2,47,16,000/- has been credited in the bank account of the accused. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the offence levelled against the applicant, and the fact that during investigation, on the basis of memorandum statement of the applicant, it reveals that he has received Rs.45,000/- from co-accused person for opening three bank accounts, further there were 85 online complaints regarding online financial fraud of huge amount from various victims of different states of the country through the bank account of the applicant and furthermore, the complainant has been cheated amount of Rs.59,23,000/- by luring him with the promise of profit in share trading and the account of the accused has been used in the said transaction, this Court is of the opinion that it is not a fit case to enlarge the applicant on regular bail. 7. Accordingly, this first bail application of applicant – Pratap Patra involved in Crime No. 4/2024 registered at Police Station – Cyber Range, District - Raipur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 420, 34 of IPC, 1860, is rejected at this stage. 8. Needless to say that the learned trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed with the trial and conclude the same, expeditiously. 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 Preeti