1 2026:CGHC:1291 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 135 of 2026 Purushottam @ Jadu Dewangan S/o Shri Sonu Dewangan, Aged About 26 Years R/o Gouri Nagar, Mahadev Nagar Ward No. 13, Police Out Chikhli Police Station Kotwali, District- Rajnandgaon (C.G.) ... Applicant(s) versus The State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police Station Lalbagh, District- Rajnandgaon (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Rajendra Patel, Advocate. For Respondent(s) : Ms. Monika Thakur, Panel Lawyer. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 08/01/2026 1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 188/2025 registered at Police Station Lalbagh, District- Rajnandgaon (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 310(2), 296, 115(2), 351(2), 308(2), 140(1), 126(2) of BNS. KUNAL DEWANGAN Digitally signed by KUNAL DEWANGAN 2 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on the night of 10.04.2025, at about 11:45 p.m., the complainant Tarun Soni, after loading a cart of pudding from the house of Rizwan Jamal, went to Rajnandgaon Railway Station along with his younger brother Sandeep Kumar Soni to receive his elder maternal brother Rahul Soni and his friend Tillu, who were arriving from Bhatapara. They reached the railway station at around 12:30 a.m. on 11.04.2025. While returning home, near the Old Dhaba Children’s Observation Home, the accused persons namely Purushottam Sahu @ Jadu, Nitin Sahu, Rahul Singh, and the present applicants arrived in a blue car, parked it in the middle of the road, forcibly dragged the complainant and his companions out of their vehicle, and assaulted them. Thereafter, they were forcibly taken in the car to a house situated in front of the Abis Factory, where they were confined, assaulted, and abused throughout the night. It is further alleged that the accused persons robbed the complainant party of their mobile phones and Rs.4,000/- in cash, recorded a video of the incident, and also abused the complainant’s mother. The prosecution further alleges that two sons of the complainant’s mother were murdered. The complainant was allegedly released and allowed to return home only after his neighbour Sajid Siddiqui transferred Rs.20,000/- through his mobile phone. On the basis of the said report, Crime No. 188/2025 was registered at Police Station Lalbagh for offences under Sections 310(2), 296, 115(2), 351(2), 308(2), 3 140(1) and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). After completion of investigation, the police filed the charge-sheet against the accused persons. Hence, the bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has not committed any offence and he has been falsely implicated in offence in question. He further submits that identically situated co- accused, namely, Rahul Singh has already been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 31.10.2025 in MCRC No.8672 of 2025. The applicant is in jail since 06.10.2025, the applicant has no criminal antecedent, charge-sheet has been filed and the trial is likely to take some time for its conclusion. Therefore, he prays for grant of bail to the applicant. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case. He further submits that the applicant is alleged to have, along with co-accused persons, forcibly stopped the complainant, assaulted and abducted him, wrongfully confined him, robbed cash and mobile phones, and participated in extortion of money during the incident of 10/11.04.2025, therefore, the applicant is not entitled for grant of bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of offence, period of detention of the applicant 4 since 06.10.2025, the fact that though the applicant is alleged to have, along with co-accused persons, forcibly stopped the complainant, assaulted and abducted him, wrongfully confined him, robbed cash and mobile phones, and participated in extortion of money, but considering the fact that identically situated co- accused, namely, Rahul Singh has already been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 31.10.2025 in MCRC No.8672 of 2025, further the applicant has no criminal antecedent and charge-sheet has been filed, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case. 7. Accordingly, the application is allowed. 8. 7. Accordingly, the application is allowed. 8. Let the Applicant-Purushottam @ Jadu Dewangan, involved in Crime No. 188/2025 registered at Police Station Lalbagh, District- Rajnandgaon (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 310(2), 296, 115(2), 351(2), 308(2), 140(1), 126(2) of BNS, be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond with two sureties in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law. (ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through 5 his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 351 of BNSS. If in the opinion of the trial court absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against him in accordance with law. 9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Kunal.