1 2026:CGHC:9552 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 303 of 2026 Krishna Sahu S/o Dwarika Sahu. Aged About 49 Years R/o 107, Chikhali - 2, Birgaon Bindrawangarh District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh - 493221 ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police Station Urla, Raipur (C.G.) ... Respondent For Applicant : Mr. Sudip Mallick, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Dr. Sourabh Pande, Dy. Advocate General. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 24.02.2026 1. This first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.30/2026 registered at Police Station – Urla, Raipur (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 337, 338, 339 & 340 of the BNS 2023. VAIBHAV SINGH Digitally signed by VAIBHAV SINGH Date: 2026.02.24 16:21:01 +0530 2 2. According to the prosecution case, the applicant, Krishna Sahu, who was serving as the Society In-Charge of the Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Society, Kumhari, is alleged to have manipulated the paddy procurement records dated 21.01.2026. It is alleged that one farmer, Shri Alok Sharma, had brought only 104 bags of paddy for sale at the procurement centre, however, 850 bags were entered in the official records, resulting in an excess entry of 746 bags. Owing to the said alleged manipulation, an amount of Rs.7,06,909.60 (Rupees Seven Lakh Six Thousand Nine Hundred Nine and Sixty Paise) was transferred to the bank account of the said farmer. Upon verification of the procurement records and after recording statements of the concerned staff members and the farmer, discrepancies were allegedly detected. Consequently, at the instance of the designated officer of the Society, Shri Jageshwar Prasad Varma, an FIR bearing Crime No. 30/2026 was registered on 31.01.2026 at Urla Police Station, Raipur against the applicant in her capacity as Society In-Charge, and investigation has been initiated in the matter. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submits that as the entire prosecution story arises out of an alleged discrepancy in recording the number of paddy bags in the procurement register dated 21.01.2026, which at best amounts to a clerical or typographical error and does not disclose any criminal intent; owing to heavy workload during the peak procurement season, an inadvertent mistake occurred while entering the quantity of bags. It is further submitted that the statement of the farmer, Shri Alok Sharma, clearly reflects that he is unaware of any alleged manipulation and has voluntarily agreed to 3 return any excess amount, if transferred, which itself demonstrates absence of dishonest intention or wrongful loss. Likewise, the statement of the Porter Head, Shri Rameshwar Nishad (dated 31.01.2026), reveals that he was neither examined earlier regarding the discrepancy nor is he aware of any mismatch, thereby weakening the prosecution case. It is also pertinent that a fire incident had occurred at the paddy procurement centre causing substantial damage to stock and infrastructure, and a separate inquiry in that regard is ongoing; the overall circumstances, including heavy workload and administrative stress during procurement and post-fire management, contributed to clerical inconsistencies. The alleged offence is purely documentary in nature and custodial interrogation is not required, as all relevant records are already in possession of the authorities. The applicant has no criminal antecedents, is a permanent resident having deep roots in society, and there is no likelihood of absconding or tampering with evidence. The applicant undertakes to fully cooperate with the investigation and to abide by any terms and conditions that may be imposed by this Hon’ble Court while granting bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposed the anticipatory bail application of the applicant. 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 and nature of dispute and materials available on record, without further commenting anything on merits, this Court find it appropriate to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant. 4 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant – Krishna Sahu, on executing a personal bond and one local 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 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 his adhaar card along with a coloured 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 vaibhav