1 2026:CGHC:6756 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 659 of 2026 Shambhu Pandit S/o Late Balkrishna Pandit Kumbhkar Aged About 37 Years R/o Amr Enclave Ashok Batla Hyderabad (Telangana) Permanant Address Village Dubha Post Pohir Bujug District Vaishali (Bihar) (Particulars of the Applicant is not properly mentioned in the impugned Order) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh through SHO Police Station - Balod District - Balod Chhattisgarh ... Respondent For the applicant : Mr. Avinash Chand Sahu, Advocate through VC and Ms. Priya Sharma, Advocate. For the State : Mr. Afroz Khan, Panel Lawyer (Hon’ble Shri Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) Order on Board 06.02.2026 1. This is first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant in Crime No.295/2025 registered at Police Station ALLENA ANNAJEE RAO Digitally signed by ALLENA ANNAJEE RAO Date: 2026.02.06 17:00:57 +0530 2 Balod, District Balod (CG) for the offences under Sections 74, 3(5) of BNS and Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. 2. As per the prosecution case, the complainant lodged a report on 21.07.2025 to the effect that on 10.02.2025 the applicant had harassed his daughter and tried to outrage her modesty in an Ashram and after consultation with his family members, the matter was reported to the police station and subsequently on 28.09.2025 the applicant was arrested and after primary investigation, the police released him on personal bond. Thereafter when the police filed charge sheet, the applicant filed the application for grant of regular bail, which has been rejected by the learned court below by order dated 01.12.2025 and the applicant was again arrested on the same date. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the complainant and the applicant as also the other accused are the devotees of Yog Vedant Ashram, Balod and the other accused being head of the above Ashram mentally harassed the applicant to stay forever in the said Ashram and when the applicant denied to stay long in Ashram, he has been falsely roped in the crime. She further submits that there was an inordinate delay of 5 ½ months in filing the FIR. She submits that the applicant is in jail since 01.12.2025; there are total 12 witnesses yet to be examined and there is no immediate possibility of disposal of case, therefore, he may be enlarged on bail. 4. Per contra, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and submits that at the time of incident, the victim was minor. 3 5. The father of victim has appeared through VC from the concerned DLSA and raised objection to grant bail. 6. Having considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties and the over all facts situation of the case and further considering the fact that the trial is likely to take its own time, I am inclined to release him on regular bail at this stage. 7. Accordingly, this bail application is allowed and the applicant is directed to be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond in sum of Rs.25,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the trial Court for his appearance before the said Court as and when directed in that behalf. Cc as per rules. Sd/- (Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) Judge Rao