1 2026:CGHC:10564 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 974 of 2026 Anurag Sharma S/o Arun Sharma Aged About 28 Years R/o Ward No. 12 V.T.C. Colony, Charcha, Police Station Charcha, District - Koriya (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through - Police Station Baikunthpur, District - Koriya (C.G.) ... Respondent For Applicant : Ms. Anshu Ratre, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Ms. Anusha Naik, Dy.G.A. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 28/02/2026 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.218/2025 registered at Police Station Baikunthpur, Distt. Koriya (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 317(2), 317(4), 317(5) of B.N.S. GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2026.03.02 10:56:50 +0530 2 2. Case of prosecution, in brief, is that on a letter received from the office of the Inspector General of Police, SIV/CCTNS/Cyber Crime, Police Headquarters, Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, directing legal action against the listed account holders of mule accounts at Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, and UCO Bank, Baikunthpur branch—whose accounts were used for cyber fraud—the Police Station Baikunthpur registered Crime No. 218/2025 against the applicant/accused Anurag Sharma and 14 other account holders. After completion of the investigation, a charge sheet has been filed for offences punishable under Sections 111, 317(2), 317(4), and 317(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). In the said case, the accused/applicant Anurag Sharma was arrested on 25.07.2025. 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 investigation has not revealed any evidence to show that the amount allegedly transferred to the applicant’s bank account was ever utilized by him, nor is there any material to establish his involvement in the alleged online fraud. The applicant has not made any transaction from his account in relation to the alleged offence and has no connection with any illegal transaction. It is further submitted that the bank documents and SIM allegedly linked with the offence were lost and appear to have been misused by unknown persons, making the applicant himself a victim in the matter. She would submit that the charge sheet has been filed in this case, the applicant is in jail since 25/07/2025 and conclusion of trial will take some time, therefore, she prays for grant of bail to the applicant. 3 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and she would submit that charge sheet has been filed in this case before the competent court. She would submit that in compliance of the Court’s order dated 29/01/2026 the Investigating Officer has filed his personal affidavit in the matter. She would further submit that bail application of the co-accused namely Ravishankar Yadav has been rejected by this Court in MCRC No.8263/2025 on 05/12/2025, therefore the applicant is not entitled to be released on bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. The relevant portion of the personal affidavit filed by the concerned Investigating Officer reads as under:- “8.That, during investigation, the present accused applicant opened a bank account in exchange of money and gave his bank passbook and ATM Card to another person for illegal transactions. As evidence of the crime was found in the case, the accused was arrested through an arrest warrant and the family members of the accused were informed about his arrest. In this case, the arrest of one named absconding accused account holder and the accused who used the bank accounts is pending. The investigation in the case is going on and at this stage of the case, if the accused gets bail, it will affect the case. 16.That, during investigation, it was revealed that, in the aforesaid Bank Account Number 360505001257 of ICICI Bank, Branch at Baikunthpur, District Korea belongs to the present Accused 4 Applicant, the total amount of Rs.30,85,120/- was credited and the total amount of Rs.30,85,120 was debited into the said bank account. 19.That, during investigation, it was revealed that, in the aforesaid Bank Account Number 24803211087526 of UCO Bank, Branch at Baikunthpur, District Korea belongs to the present Accused Applicant, the total amount of Rs.38,22,547/- was credited and the total amount of Rs. 36,12,493.72 was debited into the said bank account.” 7. From perusal of the affidavit filed by the Investigating Officer, it goes to show that the applicant opened bank accounts in exchange for money and knowingly handed over his bank passbook and ATM card to another person for carrying out illegal transactions and substantial amounts were transacted through the bank accounts belonging to the applicant, in ICICI Bank Account No. 360505001257, Branch Baikunthpur, District Korea, a total sum of Rs.30,85,120/- was credited and the same amount was debited, similarly, in UCO Bank Account No. 24803211087526, Branch Baikunthpur, District Korea, a total sum of Rs.38,22,547/- was credited and Rs.36,12,493.72 was debited. 8. Considering the nature of allegation levelled against the applicant, it is evident that the applicant was involved in organized crime and the modus operandi reflects a well-orchestrated and large-scale financial fraud committed through digital platforms, causing substantial monetary loss and public harm, thus involvement of the applicant in the alleged offence appears to be reasonable and such incidents are increasing rapidly, severely impacting not only the economy but also 5 the banking system, also considering the fact that bail application of the co-accused namely Ravishankar Yadav has been rejected by this Court in MCRC No.8263/2025 on 05/12/2025, hence, this Court does not find it to be a fit case to release the applicant on regular bail. 9. 9. Accordingly, the bail application of applicant Anurag Sharma involved in Crime No.218/2025 registered at Police Station Baikunthpur, Distt. Koriya (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 317(2), 317(4), 317(5) of B.N.S, is rejected. 10. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information. - Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE gouri