1 2026:CGHC:968 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 2003 of 2025 Manoj Rajput S/o Jawahar Singh Rajput Aged About 50 Years R/o Ward No. 3, Near Nagar Nigam Office, Motilal Nehru Nagar, Bhilai, District - Durg Chhattisgarh ... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station City Kotwali Durg, District - Durg Chhattisgarh ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Manoj Paranjpe, Senior Advocate assisted by Mr. Aditya Kumar Mishra, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Ms. Vaishali Mahilang, Dy. G.A. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 07.01.2026 1. This first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.609/2025 registered at Police Station AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN Digitally signed by AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN 2 City Kotwali Durg, District - Durg (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 221, 126(2), 191(1), 121(1), 132, 61(2), 125(a) of BNS. 2. Prosecution case in brief is that on 01.12.2025, on the report lodged by Constable Kamalkant Agoore of Police Station City Kotwali, Durg, it was alleged that the present applicant Manoj Rajput, along with several co-accused persons, without prior permission, held a protest against the increase in land registration prices and unlawfully blocked the public road in front of the BSNL Office, Patel Chowk, Durg, causing traffic disruption. It is further alleged that despite police persuasion, the applicant and co- accused became violent, obstructed police personnel in discharge of their official duties, indulged in scuffle, caused damage to government property, and inflicted injuries upon on-duty police personnel. On the basis of the said report, FIR No. 609/2025 was registered at Police Station City Kotwali, Durg, for the aforesaid offences, with additional sections being added during investigation. Hence, the bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant would submit that the the applicant is innocent and has falsely been implicated in the present case. He further submits that because for the very same incident, the police had already initiated preventive proceedings against the present applicant on the report submitted by the Station House Officer, Police Station City Kotwali, District Durg, 3 registered as Istegasa No. 209/536/2025, wherein the applicant was produced before the learned Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Durg (City), District Durg, Chhattisgarh, and was released by order dated 01.12.2025 on execution of a bond of Rs. 5,00,000/-. Notably, even in the said Istegasa report prepared by the Station House Officer, none of the allegations subsequently levelled in the present FIR, such as obstruction of government work, scuffle with police personnel, or causing injuries, were either mentioned or reflected. Despite the preventive action already having been taken and the matter having been placed before the learned Sub- Divisional Magistrate, the subsequent registration of the present FIR, arising out of the same set of facts and without any fresh or contemporaneous material, prima facie indicates that the custodial arrest of the applicant is unwarranted. He also submits that so far as criminal antecedents of the applicant are concerned, applicant has 12 criminal antecedents, out of which, 5 cases have been disposed of, in one case applicant has already been acquitted and rest of the other cases which are pending are related to family dispute, hence he prays for grant of anticipatory bail to the applicant. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel has opposed the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail and submits that the applicant is alleged to have, along with co-accused persons, unlawfully protested without permission, blocked a public road, obstructed police officials in discharge of their duties, indulged in violence, 4 caused damage to government property, and inflicted injuries on police personnel, therefore, he is not entitled for grant of bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the facts & circumstances of the case, submissions of learned counsel for the parties, nature of dispute and material available in case diary, and the fact that though the applicant allegedly along with co-accused persons, unlawfully protested without permission, blocked a public road, obstructed police officials in discharge of their duties, indulged in violence, caused damage to government property, and inflicted injuries on police personnel, but considering the criminal antecedents of the applicant has 12 criminal antecedents, out of which, 5 cases have been disposed of, in one case applicant has already been acquitted and rest of the other cases which are pending are related to family dispute, as such, without further commenting anything on merits, this Court find it appropriate to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant - Manoj Rajput, on executing a personal bond with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) He shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person 5 acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such fact to the Court. (b) He shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) He 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 their adhaar card alongwith a colored postcard full size photo having printed the adhaar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court. (e) He shall not involve himself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Akhil