1 2026:CGHC:8873 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No.239 of 2026 Sejal Rathod D/o Vijay Rathore Aged About 30 Years R/o Vasant Kunj, 1st Floor, Jalaram Dairy Farm, Opposite State Bank Of India, Ganj, Raipur - 492001 Chhattisgarh ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Station House Officer, Saraswati Nagar Thana, Raipur (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Shailesh Tiwari, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Mr. Priyank Rathi, G.A. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 19.02.2026 1. This anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the Applicant, who is apprehending her arrest in connection SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Digitally signed by SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Date: 2026.02.20 09:50:34 +0530 2 with Crime No.0020/2026 registered at Police Station – Saraswati Nagar, District – Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4), 336(3) and 338 of BNS, 2023. 2. As per the prosecution case, an agreement for sale of certain lands situated at Gram Naveli, District Baloda Bazar- Bhatapara, admeasuring in total 22.347 hectares, was executed between Sambhav Tubes Pvt. Ltd. and HI-TECH Abrasives Limited, pursuant to which an advance amount of Rs.11,51,00,000 was allegedly paid by the purchaser between October and December 2025. Upon title verification, the purchaser discovered an existing mortgage and proceedings before the Debt Recovery Tribunal, Mumbai and thereafter sought return of the advance. The FIR has been registered against the Company, its directors, and other persons, including the present Applicant. However, the material on record indicates that the Applicant had resigned from the directorship of HI-TECH Abrasives Limited on 31.03.2022 and her cessation is reflected in the company records as well as the Ministry of Corporate Affairs portal. The transactions and negotiations referred to in the FIR are alleged to have taken place during 2025–2026, i.e., much after the Applicant ceased to hold any position in the 3 company and there is no specific allegation showing her involvement in the said transactions. On the basis of the said complaint, the aforesaid offence has been registered against the present 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. It is submitted that the Applicant was earlier Ex- Director of Hi-Tech Abrasives Limited but has resigned in the year 2022 from such directorship. It is submitted that co- accused Pritam Tekriwal, Shri Narayan Prasad Tekriwal and Pankaj Tekriwal have already been granted regular bail by this Court vide order dated 13.02.2026 passed in M.Cr.C Nos.1598/2026, 1605/2026 and 1565/2026 respectively and the other co-accused has also been granted anticipatory bail and as the case of the present Applicant is identically situated and further considering that she is a lady, she may also be granted anticipatory bail on the grounds of parity. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail and does not dispute that co- accused have been granted regular as well as anticipatory bail. 5. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the 4 material available in the case diary. 6. The Applicant is stated to be an ex-Director of Hi-Tech Abrasives Limited, who had resigned from the said position in the year 2022, much prior to the transactions alleged in the present case. It is further noted that co-accused Pritam Tekriwal, Shri Narayan Prasad Tekriwal and Pankaj Tekriwal have already been granted regular bail by this Court vide order dated 13.02.2026 passed in M.Cr.C. Nos. 1598/2026, 1605/2026 and 1565/2026 respectively and another co- accused has also been granted anticipatory bail. Considering the parity with the co-accused, the absence of any specific role attributed to the present Applicant after her resignation, and the fact that she is a lady, this Court is inclined to allow the anticipatory bail application. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the Applicant – Sejal Rathod, on executing a personal bond with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, she 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/her from disclosing such fact to the Court. (b) The Applicant shall not act in any manner 5 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/her by the said Court till disposal of the trial. (d)The Applicant and the surety shall submit a copy of his/her adhaar card alongwith a colored 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/herself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Priya