1 2026:CGHC:13037 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 412 of 2026 Ravi Kumar Navrang S/o Kartikram Navrang Aged About 32 Years R/o Nangchui Matsagar, P.S. Takhatpur, District Bilaspur(CG) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Police Station City Kotwali, District- Bilaspur (CG) ... Respondent For Applicant : Shri Vikas Patel, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Ms. Anusha Naik, Dy.G.A. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order On Board 18/03/2026 1. The applicant has preferred this application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suruksha Sanhita, 2023, for grant of anticipatory bail, apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.415/2024 (wrongly mentioned as 415/2014), registered at GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2026.03.19 17:58:13 +0530 2 Police Station City Kotwali, District- Bilaspur (CG) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 419, 420, 467, 478, 471, 120 (B), 34 of I.P.C. 2. As per the case of the prosecution, a written complaint was lodged by the Branch Manager of Gramin Bank, Torwa Naka, Bilaspur, stating that on 26.06.2024 an account No. 77098873538 was opened in the name of Mala Somwar using an Aadhaar card as KYC, which was later found to be invalid. On 30.08.2024, Mohit Kerketta transferred Rs.20,00,000/- through RTGS from his SBI account to the said account. Later, Shankar Kumar Somwar informed the bank that Mala Somwar had been residing in Mumbai for the last 8-10 years and had not opened the account. Consequently, the bank put a hold on the amount and on the basis of the written complaint, FIR No. 415/2024 was registered at City Kotwali Police Station, Bilaspur on 21.09.2024. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the name of the applicant has come into light in the memorandum statement of co- accused Durpati Gat. It is stated that the co-accused Kuldeep Pandey was involved in the said case and he has been allowed anticipatory by this Court in MCRCA No.1190/2024 on 17/10/2024. He would submit that so far as the applicant is concerned, he be granted anticipatory bail on the ground of parity. 3 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail and submitted that the case pertains to the year 2024 and the FIR which was registered way back in 2024, the applicant has absconded and charge sheet was submitted against him as an absconder. She would submit that so far as the anticipatory bail of the co-accused is concerned, it was granted way back on 17/10/2024, as the applicant was absconding and he did not surrender before the Court or approached this Court for grant of anticipatory bail at a prior point of time, he is not entitled 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, further considering the fact that charge sheet was submitted against the applicant as an absconder and also in the light of the judgment of Supreme Court in Lavesh v. State (NCT of Delhi), reported in {(2012) 8 SCC 730} and State of Madhya Pradesh v. Pradeep Sharma, reported in {(2014) 2 SCC 171}, wherein it has been observed that where the accused has been declared as an absconder and has not cooperated with the investigation, he should not be granted anticipatory bail, therefore this Court does not find it to be a fit case to enlarge the applicant on anticipatory bail. 4 7. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant - Ravi Kumar Navrang, involved in Crime No.415/2024 (wrongly mentioned as 415/2014), registered at Police Station City Kotwali, District- Bilaspur (CG) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 419, 420, 467, 478, 471, 120 (B), 34 of I.P.C. is rejected. Sd/-d/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice gouri