1 2026:CGHC:7390 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 210 of 2026 1 - Shrawan S/o Shri Shyamlal Aged About 20 Years, 2 - Abhimanyu S/o Shri Bhurudau, Aged About 25 Years, 3 - Jagdish S/o Shri Punitram Aged About 37 Years, All R/o- Village - Bilari (Ja), Thana - Saliha, Tahsil - Sonakhan, Distt - Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Chhattisgarh. ... Applicants versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Forest Range Officer, Forest Range Arjuni, Distt - Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Chhattisgarh ... Respondent For Applicants : Shri Sunil Sahu, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Shri Soumya Rai, Dy.G.A. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order On Board 10/02/2026 1. The applicants have preferred this application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), for grant of anticipatory bail, apprehending their arrest in connection with Crime/POR No.16428/15, registered at Police GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2026.02.12 18:26:34 +0530 2 Station Forest Range Arjuni, Distt.-Balodabazar-Bhatapara (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 9 r/w section 2(16)(a), 2(16)(b), 2(16)(c), 39, 50, 51 and 52 of Wildlife Protection Act. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 25.10.2025 the information regarding hunting of wild animal bison female and body parts were lying in the forest range Arjuni and further it is informed by the informant that the persons residing in the local area were involved in the said hunting therefore a sniffer dog team was called from Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve Gariyaband and on the basis of doubt one Krishna Kumar was arrested, his memorandum statement was recorded in which he named the present applicants as well as others so on the basis of said memorandum the officers of the forest department sought to arrest the applicants. 3. Learned counsel for the applicants submitted that the name of the applicants have come into light in the memorandum statement of co-accused who was arrested for hunting of the Bison female and body parts were lying in the forest range. He would submit that the applicants are ready to abide by all the directions and conditions which may be imposed by this Court while granting bail, the applicants are permanent resident of above mentioned address shown in the cause title and there is no likelihood of their absconding or tampering with prosecution witnesses, therefore he prays to enlarge the applicants on anticipatory bail. 3 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel 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 and circumstances of the case, submission of learned counsel for the parties, materials available on record, considering the allegation levelled against the applicants that they too were involved along with the co-accused for hunting of the Bison female and body parts of Bison female were lying in the forest range and investigation is still going on, therefore I am not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the applicants. 7. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application of the applicants - Shrawan, Abhimanyu & Jagdish involved in Crime/POR No.16428/15, registered at Police Station Forest Range Arjuni, Distt.-Balodabazar-Bhatapara (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 9 r/w section 2(16)(a), 2(16) (b), 2(16)(c), 39, 50, 51 and 52 of Wildlife Protection Act is rejected. d/-Sd S S Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice gouri