1 2026:CGHC:19363 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 540 of 2026 Nikhil Pratap Singh @ Dhruw S/o. Pushpendra Pratap Singh Aged About 21 Years R/o.- Village Sonhat, Ward No. 02, Near Mahamaya Mandir, District- Koriya (C.G.) At Present R/o.- Royal Park, M.G. Road, Ambikapur, District- Sarguja (C.G.) ...Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through- S.H.O. Gandhinagar, Ambikapur, District- Surguja (C.G.) ... Respondent For Applicant : Shri Dhirendra Prasad Mishra, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Shri Soumya Rai, Dy.G.A. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 27/04/2026 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.156/2025 GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2026.04.28 11:57:57 +0530 2 registered at Police Station – Gandhinagar, District- Sarguja (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 338 and 61(2) of B.N.S. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the applicant, along with co- accused, induced the complainant Shashikant Singh and others to invest in share trading by promising assured monthly returns of 10– 15%. They operated through an office (Sarvoham Academy) and used the name of Motilal Oswal Financial Services Limited to gain trust. It is alleged that the applicant & co-accused got DEMAT accounts opened, formed a firm, and initially paid small profits to build confidence. Thereafter, they collected large sums from the complainant and around 120 investors, manipulated account details (mobile/email), misappropriated funds, and stopped payments. Cheques issued by them were dishonoured, and despite repeated assurances, the amount was not returned. The total alleged fraud is about ₹7.40 crore, leading to registration of the FIR against the applicant and co-accused. Hence this bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated. It is contended that the applicant is merely a relative of co-accused Akash Singh and is engaged in running a car wash business (A2S Workshop), having no involvement in share trading, DEMAT accounts, or franchise dealings with Motilal Oswal Financial Services Limited. He would further submit that the complainant Shashikant Singh himself owned the franchise and invested voluntarily, and the dispute arises out of non-profit in a fluctuating share market. It is further submitted that no material 3 evidence links the applicant to the alleged fraud, and financial transactions in his accounts pertain to his independent business activities. It is further submitted that the regular bail of co-accused namely Akash Singh has been granted by the Supreme Court vide its order dated 10.12.2025 in SLP(Cr.) No. 15531 of 2025. He would further submit that the applicant is a permanent resident of address mentioned in the cause title and there is no likelihood of absconding, the applicant undertakes to abide by any conditions imposed by this Court, therefore, he submits that the present applicant is entitled for grant of anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel, appearing for the non - applicant/State, opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail but do not dispute the fact that co-accused has been granted regular bail by the Supreme Court. 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, nature of allegation levelled against the applicant, further the fact that co- accused namely Akash Singh has been granted regular by the Supreme Court vide its order dated 10.12.2025 in SLP(Cr.) No. 15531 of 2025 and also considering the fact that investigation and trial are likely to take some time, without commenting anything on the merits of the case, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the present applicant. 4 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant – Nikhil Pratap Singh @ Dhruw, on executing a personal bond and one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) The applicant 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) The applicant shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) The applicant 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) The applicant shall not involve himself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice gouri