1 2026:CGHC:7913 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No.442 of 2026 Piyush Pandey S/o Tilak Raj Pandey Aged About 28 Years At - C- 100, N M D C Colony, New Rajendra Nagar, Raipur, C.G. (As Per The Chargesheet) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Ps Ganj, Raipur, C.G. ... Non-applicant _____________________________________________________ For Applicant :Mr. Akash Mishra, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State :Ms. Anusha Naik, Dy. G.A. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 12.02.2026 1. The Applicant has preferred this 1st 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.79/2025 registered at Police Ganj, SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Digitally signed by SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Date: 2026.02.13 19:32:02 +0530 2 District Raipur (C.G.), for the offence under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111 and 3(5) of BNS. 2. Prosecution case in brief is that the concerned police station received information from the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal regarding the opening and operation of mule bank accounts, pursuant to which an offence as mentioned above was registered. In furtherance thereof, the Applicant was arrested on the allegation that a mobile number linked to a bank account involved in the alleged transactions was registered in his name. The memorandum of the Applicant was thereafter recorded, which indicates that upon inducement by the prime accused, the Applicant had handed over his SIM card that was subsequently used by the prime accused to open a bank account in the name of one Hariram Bariha for the purpose of committing fraud. Based on these allegations, offence as mentioned above was registered against the Applicant. Hence, this application. 3. Learned counsel for the Applicant submits that the Applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case, who is in jail since 24.06.2025. He further submits that charge sheet has been filed, two out of three co-accused i.e. Devansh Dhruw Malkan and Danka Kameshwar Rao have been granted by this Court vide orders dated 28.01.2026 and 3 09.02.2026 passed in respective M.Cr.C Nos.9659/2025 and 1414/2026 and the other co-accused namely Bhagwat Prasad Shukla was enlarged on bail by the Supreme Court vide order dated 16.1.2026; SLP[Crl.] No.20364/2025 and conclusion of trial is likely to take quite some time, therefore, considering all these aspects, the Applicant may also be granted bail on the grounds of parity. 4. On the other hand, learned Counsel for the State opposes the bail application, though it is not disputed that the co-accused persons have already been granted bail. 5. Considering the submissions made by learned Counsel for the parties and after perusing the case diary, this Court finds that the Applicant is in custody since 24.06.2025 and similarly placed co-accused persons have already been granted bail by this Court as well as by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, charge sheet has been filed and the conclusion of trial is likely to take considerable time, therefore, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case and considering the principle of parity along with the period of custody, this Court is inclined to allow the application. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed. 6. Let Applicant- Piyush Pandey involved in Crime No.79/2025 registered at Police Ganj, District Raipur (C.G.), for the 4 offence under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111 and 3(5) 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 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. 5 7. 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 Priya