1 2026:CGHC:2485 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 81 of 2026 • Sushil Ratna S/o Pulkeet Ratna Aged About 34 Years R/o Village Chhin, Police Station Sarangarh, District Sarangarh-Bilaigarh C.G. ... Applicant versus • State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police Of Police Station Malkharoda, District Sakti C.G. ... Non-applicant (Cause title taken from Case Information System) For Applicant : Mr. Ishwar Jaiswal, Advocate. For State/Non-applicant : Ms. Vaishali Mahilong, Deputy G.A. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order On Board 15.01.2026 1. The applicant has preferred this application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of anticipatory bail, apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No. 279/2024, registered at Police Station Malkharoda, District Sakti (C.G.) for the alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340 read with Section 3(5), of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the Chief Manager (Administration) of S.B.I., Regional Business Oice, Korba, District Korba, C.G., lodged a report stating that on 27.09.2024, the Field DEEPTI JHA Digitally signed by DEEPTI JHA 2 Officer of Dabra Branch, Shri Chandrashekhar Bodra, informed that the State Bank of India Branch in Village Chhapora had been operating since 18/09/2024. During the preliminary investigation, it was discovered that six individuals were working at the said bank. Upon inquiry, it was revealed that they had received appointment letters from various persons after paying money for the promise of a job, without undergoing any competitive examination. Their recruitment was done through direct appointments, which were found to be fraudulent. It was alleged that Pankaj, Rekha Sahu, Mandir Das, Anil Bhaskar, Subhadra Mahant, and others committed fraud by taking money under the pretext of providing jobs in the State Bank of India. They accomplished this by making false statements, issuing fake joining letters, and opening a fake bank branch. Based on the report, the aforementioned offence were registered, and an investigation was initiated. During the investigation, co-accused persons were arrested and in one of the co- accused persons were arrested and in one of the co-accused memorandum the name of the present applicant reflected, therefore, the applicant also arrested on the basis of his memorandum. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submits that the allegations levelled against the applicant are solely based on the memorandum statement of a co-accused and the name of the present applicant came in the light during investigation, but there is no allegations levelled against him. It is further submitted that similar situated co-accused persons and main accused persons have already granted regular bail by this Court, but the anticipatory bail of the co- accused namely, Naresh Kumar Manhar was rejected by this Court 3 vide order dated 07.01.2025 in MCRCA No.6/2025. Therefore, he prays for grant of anticipatory bail to the present applicant. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the anticipatory bail application of the present applicant and submits that the present applicant, along with other co-accused, is allegedly involved in a bank fraud, therefore, he is not entitled for grant of anticipatory bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the nature and gravity of the offence and material on record in the case diary, and the fact that the present applicant, along with other co-accused, is allegedly involved in a bank fraud, therefore, I am not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant. 7. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant – Sushil Ratna, involved in Crime No. 279/2024, registered at Police Station Malkharoda, District Sakti (C.G.) for the alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340 read with Section 3(5), of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, is rejected. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice