1 2026:CGHC:5281 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 1028 of 2026 • Dharmendra Soni S/o Parmanand Soni Aged About 31 Years R/o Gopiyapara, Purani Basti, Near Gopal Mandir, P.S. Purani Basti, Raipur District Raipur Chhattisgarh ... Applicant versus • State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Azad Chowk Raipur, District Raipur Chhattisgarh ... Respondent (Cause title is taken from Case Information System) For Applicant : Mr. Banhiman Roy, Advocate For Respondent/State : Ms. Anusha Naik, Dy.G.A. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 30.01.2026 1. The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 78/2025, registered at Police Station – Azad Chowk District – Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111, 3(5) the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). 2. The case of the prosecution, is that an information was received through the cyber crime reporting portal that 21 Mule Bank accounts has been fraudulently opened in India Overs as Bank, Branch Samta VAISHALI LUCKY NAGARIA Digitally signed by VAISHALI LUCKY NAGARIA Date: 2026.02.02 10:51:01 +0530 2 Colony, Raipur and were being used for receiving proceeds of cyber fraud. Acting on directions from the Police headquarters, a report regarding the incident was forwarded to police station Azad Chowk, Raipur, where an FIR was registered against all 21 bank account holders including the present applicant for commission of aforesaid offence, hence this bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that the bail application of the co-accused namely Kavita Mechke was rejected by this Court in MCRC No.6589 of 2025 vide order dated 20.08.2025, thereafter, against the said order she preferred a Special Leave Petition bearing SLP (Crl.) No.18637 of 2025 and same was allowed vide order dated 07.01.2026, and she was granted bail, and on the same ground one co-accused namely Sonu Vibhar and Abhinav Mahule have been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 13.01.2026 and 27.01.2026 passed in MCRC No.410 of 2026 and MCRC No.883 of 2026 respectively. The applicant has been in custody since 26.05.2025. The charge-sheet has already been filed before the competent Court, and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take a considerable period of time. Therefore, it is prayed that the applicant may kindly be enlarged on bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel appearing for the respondent/State opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case. She further submits that the applicant along with co-accused persons, were involved in organized fraud and facilitated the diversion and circulation of proceeds of crime amount to Rs.24,86,762.13/- by opening and using multipal bank accounts. Therefore, the applicant is not entitled for 3 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, the fact that the investigation has already been completed and the charge-sheet has been filed before the competent Court and further considering that the bail application of the co-accused namely Kavita Mechke was rejected by this Court in MCRC No.6589 of 2025 vide order dated 20.08.2025, thereafter, against the said order she preferred a Special Leave Petition bearing SLP (Crl.) No.18637 of 2025 and same was allowed vide order dated 07.01.2026, and she was granted bail, and on the same ground one co-accused namely Sonu Vibhar and Abhinav Mahule have been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 13.01.2026 and 27.01.2026 passed in MCRC No.410 of 2026 and MCRC No.883 of 2026 respectively and applicant is in jail since 26.05.2025. Therefore, this Court is of the view that the present applicant is entitled to be released on bail in the present case on the ground of parity. 7. Let applicant, Dharmendra Soni, involved in Crime No.78/2025, registered at Police Station – Azad Chowk District – Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111, 3(5) the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (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 4 law. (ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through 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. 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 vaishali