1 2026:CGHC:10016 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 942 of 2026 1. Doman Verma S/o Late Noharlal Verma Aged About 51 Years R/o Village - Daihan, Post - Mudhipar, Out Post - Mahara, Thana - Dongargarh, Tahsil - Khairagarh, District - Khairagarh - Chhuikhadan - Gandai (C.G.) 2. Bhagvati Verma S/o Late Nohar Verma Aged About 61 Years R/o Village - Daihan, Post - Mudhipar, Out Post - Mahara, Thana - Dongargarh, Tahsil - Khairagarh, District - Khairagarh - Chhuikhadan - Gandai (C.G.) 3. Chandu Verma S/o Mahesh Ram Verma Aged About 35 Years R/o Village - Daihan, Post - Mudhipar, Out Post - Mahara, Thana - Dongargarh, Tahsil - Khairagarh, District - Khairagarh - Chhuikhadan - Gandai (C.G.) 4. Hemchand Verma S/o Late Ram Sevak Verma Aged About 57 Years R/o Village - Daihan, Post - Mudhipar, Out Post - Mahara, Thana - Dongargarh, Tahsil - Khairagarh, District - Khairagarh - Chhuikhadan - Gandai (C.G.) 5. Deepak Yadav S/o Late Dayaram Yadav Aged About 54 Years R/o Village - Daihan, Post - Mudhipar, Out Post - Mahara, Thana - Dongargarh, Tahsil - Khairagarh, District - Khairagarh - Chhuikhadan - Gandai (C.G.) ... Applicants versus The State of Chhattisgarh Through Forest Range Khairagarh, District - Khairagarh - Chhuikhadan - Gandai (C.G.) ... Non-Applicant PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2026.02.27 10:38:10 +0530 2 For Applicants : Mr. Samir Singh, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Ms. Smriti Shrivastava, Panel Lawyer. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 26.02.2026 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/POR No. 22618/03 registered at Police Station - Forest Range Khairagarh, District - Khairagarh - Chhuikhadan - Gandai (C.G.), for the offences punishable under Sections 9, 2(16)(B), 39(1)(D), 39(3)(A), 39(3)(B), 39(3)(C), 48A, 50(1)(C), and 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. 2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that on 14.12.2025, during a village tour and patrolling, information was received from an informer that the applicants had allegedly premeditatedly hunted a leopard by electrifying a steel wire with electric current. The electric wire and small bamboo stakes allegedly used in the commission of the offence were seized from the accused. According to the prosecution, the applicants hunted the leopard. Thereafter, a case was registered against them under Sections 9, 2(16) (B), 39(1)(D), 39(3)(A), 39(3)(B), 39(3)(C), 48A, 50(1)(C), and 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. 3. Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the present applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the aforesaid case. He further submits that the said land was not belongings to the applicants nor they fixed the electricity wire for hunting. He also submits that the applicants have no previous criminal antecedents, the charge-sheet has been filed and they are in jail since 16.12.2025. Therefore, the present applicants are entitled to be released on regular bail. 3 4. On the other hand learned State counsel opposes the bail application of the present applicants and submits that the charge-sheet has already been submitted in the present case and the applicants have no previous criminal antecedents. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature of allegations levelled against the applicants, and the fact that the applicants have no previous criminal antecedents, moreover, the fact that the charge - sheet has already been submitted in the present case before the competent Court and they have been in jail since 16.12.2025, conclusion of the trial may take some more time, therefore, this Court is of the view that the present applicants are entitled to be released on bail in this case. 7. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed. Let the Applicant Nos.1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 – Doman Verma, Bhagvati Verma, Chandu Verma Hemchand Verma and Deepak Yadav, involved in Crime/POR No. 22618/03 registered at Police Station - Forest Range Khairagarh, District - Khairagarh - Chhuikhadan - Gandai (C.G.), for the offences punishable under Sections 9, 2(16)(B), 39(1)(D), 39(3)(A), 39(3) (B), 39(3)(C), 48A, 50(1)(C), and 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, be released on bail on his furnishing personal bond with two 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 4 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 misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure their 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 them, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicants 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 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 Preeti