1 2026:CGHC:14378 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 356 of 2026 Sanjay Banjare S/o Santosh Banjare Aged About 28 Years R/o Mudiyapara Police Station And Tahsil Bodla District Kabirdham Chhattisgarh ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Out Post Baijalpur Police Station - Bodla District Kabirdham Chhattisgarh ... Respondent For Applicant : Shri Shubham Tripathi, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Shri Sourabh Sahu, PL. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 25/03/2026 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.19/2026 registered at Police Station – Out Post Baijalpur, Police Station Bodla (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Sections 4, 6, 10 of GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2026.03.27 12:49:36 +0530 2 Chhattisgarh Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act, 2004 and section 11 of Cattle Preservation Act and 11 Cruelty of Animal Act. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the complainant, Kamu Baiga, submitted a written application at the police station on 17/02/2026. He stated that on the night of 16/02/2026, he had gone from Kawardha to village Khadodakhurd along with his companions Rajesh Patel and Kamal Kumar Dhurve to attend a Chhattisgarhi program. While returning, on 17/02/2026 at around 12:15 AM, near village Baijalpur, they saw some people driving 13 buffaloes by tying ropes around their necks, without food or water, and cruelly beating them with sticks. The animals were being taken secretly along the paved road towards Bodla. Based on this complaint, Police Outpost Baijalpur, Police Station Bodla, registered Crime No. 19/2026 under Sections 4, 6, and 10 of the Chhattisgarh Animal Preservation Act and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and took up the investigation. During the investigation, two accused persons involved in the case were arrested, and a site map of the place of occurrence was prepared. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the co-accused, Shobharam and Dilip Banjare, have already been granted bail by the learned Trial Court after producing valid receipts dated 10.02.2026 for the lawful purchase of 13 buffaloes. He would submit that the accused are small agriculturists who purchased the buffaloes for agricultural purposes, specifically for use in a buffalo cart for transportation of sugarcane, and not for slaughter. He would submit that the applicant has been falsely implicated only due to his relationship with the co- 3 accused persons, despite not being present or involved in the alleged incident and the buffaloes have already been seized, and therefore, custodial interrogation of the applicant is not required. He would submit that the applicant is a permanent resident of address shown in the cause title of the bail application and undertakes to cooperate with the investigation, therefore, he submits that the present applicant is entitled to be released on anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel, appearing for the non - applicant/State, opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the materials available on record. 6. Considering the facts & circumstances of the case, submission of learned counsel for the parties, materials available on record, considering the nature of allegation levelled against the applicant, further the fact that co-accused, Shobharam and Dilip Banjare, have already been granted bail by the trial court and also considering the fact that investigation and trial are likely to take some time, without commenting anything on the merits of the case, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the present applicant. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant – Sanjay Banjare, on executing a personal bond and one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, 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 4 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. (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 gouri