1 2026:CGHC:2839 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 606 of 2026 1 - Naveen Goswami S/o Narhare Goswami Aged About 28 Years R/o Kali Nagar, Civil Lines, Raipur (C.G.) 2 - Pankaj Bondekar S/o Ashwin Bondekar Aged About 22 Years R/o Kalinagar, Pandri Raipur (C.G.) ...Applicants versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Civil Line Police Station, Raipur (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicants : Mr. Janu Khare, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Mr. Dharmesh Shrivastava, Dy. A.G. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 16.01.2026 1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicants who have been arrested in connection with Crime No. 217/2025 registered at Police Station – Civil Lines District - Raipur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111, 3(5) BNS. VAIBHAV SINGH Digitally signed by VAIBHAV SINGH Date: 2026.01.16 17:52:10 +0530 2 2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the investigation has revealed the existence of a large-scale and organized cyber fraud syndicate operating through the opening of multiple bank accounts at Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, Civil Lines Branch, by misusing the identities of various individuals. It is alleged that agents of the syndicate recruited persons to provide their KYC documents, including Aadhaar cards and signatures, for the purpose of opening bank accounts, and that certain bank employees knowingly bypassed the mandatory verification procedures to facilitate the activation of such accounts. According to the prosecution, these accounts were thereafter systematically used to channelize the proceeds of cybercrimes and other fraudulent financial transactions, thereby enabling large-scale financial fraud and causing substantial loss to unsuspecting victims. 3. Learned Counsel for the applicants submits that the present applicants have been falsely implicated in this case. He further submits that the applicant has neither opened any bank account for the purpose of cyber fraud nor does he have any knowledge of any account being used for such illegal activities, and in fact, he has not opened any account in Utkarsh Small Finance Bank. It is further submitted that certain other individuals, in alleged collusion with bank officials, misused the applicant’s Aadhaar card and signatures to carry out transactions without his knowledge or consent. The statements of prosecution witnesses and other material already on record contain contradictions which go against the prosecution’s narrative and fail to establish any prima facie case against the applicant. It is also pertinent that the co-accused, including the main accused, have already been granted bail by the Hon’ble High Court in several connected matters, 3 and a similarly situated co-accused, namely Harmeet Singh @ Yashmit, has also been enlarged on bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in SLP (Crl.) No. 15006/2025 by order dated 19.11.2025; therefore, on the principle of parity, the present applicant is equally entitled to the benefit of bail. The applicant is a permanent resident of Raipur, has deep roots in society, and undertakes to furnish adequate surety and to abide by all terms and conditions that may be imposed by this Hon’ble Court. In these circumstances, it is humbly prayed that the applicant be released on bail 4. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State, opposes the bail application of the applicants. 5. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Taking into consideration the overall facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the applicant, and the fact that some co-accused were granted bail on the ground of being ladies while the bail applications of other co-accused were initially rejected, this Court further notes that the said rejection orders in respect of four co-accused were challenged before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in SLP Nos. 15006/2025, 12849/2025, 15613/2025 and 17452/2025, wherein the Hon’ble Supreme Court was pleased to grant bail to the co-accused vide order dated 19.11.2025, the charge-sheet has already been filed, the applicants have been in custody since 20.01.2025, and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take considerable time. In view of the aforesaid circumstances, and applying the principle of parity, this Court is of the considered opinion 4 that the present applicants also deserves to be released on bail. 7. Let the applicants – Naveen Goswami & Pankaj Bondekar involved in Crime No. 217/2025 registered at Police Station – Civil Lines District - Raipur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111, 3(5) BNS, be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond with two local sureties each in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicants shall file an undertaking to the effect that they 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 applicants shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through their counsel. In case of their absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against them under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicants misuse the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure their presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicants fail to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against them, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicants shall remain present, in person, 5 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 applicants are 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 them in accordance with law. 8. 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 vaibhav