1 2026:CGHC:18221 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 1250 of 2026 1. Dhanesh Ram Sahu S/o Apnu Ram Sahu Aged About 57 Years R/o Village Kamraud, Police Station - Magarlod, District - Dhamtari Chhattisgarh 2. Nand Kumar Sahu @ Nandu S/o Tanakram Sahu Aged About 38 Years R/o Village - Senhabhatha, Police Station - Magarlod, District - Dhamtari Chhattisgarh 3. Bhuneshwar Sahu @ Bhunesh S/o Ramaadhar Sahu Aged About 40 Years R/o Village - Senhabhatha, Police Station - Magarlod, District – Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh 4. Narayan Mahar @ Narendra S/o Awadhram Aged About 36 Years R/o Village - Khairjhithi, Police Station - Magarlod, District - Dhamtari Chhattisgarh ... Applicants versus State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station - Magarlod, District – Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh ... Non-Applicant For Applicants : Mr. Ravi Kumar Banjare, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Ms. Vaishali Mahilong, Deputy Government Advocate. Hon’ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 21.04.2026 1. The applicants have preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as they have been arrested in connection with Crime No.186/2025 PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2026.04.23 11:18:39 +0530 2 (wrongly mentioned as 186/2026 in the order), registered at Police Station – Magarlod, District : Dhamtari, (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 70(1), 299, 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 4 of Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act. 2. The prosecution’s case, in brief, is that the complainant/victim came into contact with the accused persons in the year 2017. For the purpose of prayer and to seek relief from her social and physical problems, she regularly attended prayer meetings conducted by them. During this period, from January 2022 to June 2025, it is alleged that the victim, as well as her mentally unsound daughter, were subjected to physical exploitation by the accused persons. It is further alleged that such acts were committed by giving assurances of improvement in her daughter’s mental condition and by using arguments relating to sin, virtue, and religious conversion. On the basis of the said complaint, the police at Police Station Magarlod, District Dhamtari (C.G.), registered a First Information Report bearing Crime No. 186/2025 for offences punishable under Sections 70(1), 299, and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, against the applicants. The applicants were arrested on 22.11.2025, and upon completion of the investigation, a charge-sheet was filed on 15.01.2026. 3. It is argued by learned counsel for the applicants that the applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. He further submits that the victim is a married woman and that the medical report does not support the prosecution’s case. Learned counsel further submits that there is an inordinate delay in lodging the FIR. The alleged incidents are stated to have occurred between January 2022 and June 2025, however, the complaint was registered only in November 2025, pursuant 3 to which the applicants were arrested on 22.11.2025. It is further submitted that the charge-sheet has already been filed, the applicants have been in judicial custody since 22.11.2025, and the trial is in progress and likely to take considerable time to conclude. Therefore, it is prayed that the applicants be granted bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposed the bail application and submitted that the charge sheet has already been filed. She further submits that the victim came into contact with the applicants since the year 2017, who were engaged in holding prayer gatherings, and that applicant No. 1 along with applicant Nos. 2 to 4 used to facilitate and organize such prayers. It is submitted that the victim, a married woman, has known the applicants since 2017, and the alleged incidents took place between 2022 and 2025. It is further stated that applicant No. 1 is alleged to have physically exploited the victim, while applicant Nos. 2 to 4 facilitated the commission of the offence. Accordingly, it is contended that the present bail application is liable to be rejected. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the documents available on record. 6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of allegation levelled against the applicants and the fact that as per the statement of the victim recorded under Section 183 of the BNSS, there are serious allegations of sexual exploitation of the victim, as well as physical exploitation of the victim’s daughter, who is mentally challenged, this Court is of the opinion that it is not a fit case to enlarge the applicants on regular bail. 7. Accordingly, the bail application of the applicant Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 - Dhanesh Ram Sahu, Nand Kumar Sahu @ Nandu, Bhuneshwar Sahu @ Bhunesh and Narayan Mahar @ Narendra, involved in 4 Crime No.186/2025 (wrongly mentioned as 186/2026 in the order), registered at Police Station – Magarlod, District : Dhamtari, (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 70(1), 299, 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 4 of Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, is rejected. 8. Needless to say that the trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed and conclude the trial expeditiously. 9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/-- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Preeti