1 2026:CGHC:10782 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 329 of 2026 1 - Dhirendra Kumar Pradhan S/o Shri Mukundram Pradhan Aged About 39 Years, Resident Of Bilaimuda, District - Sundargarh, (Odisha) 2 - Ghanshyam aka Bunty Dalmia S/o Shri Ram Kumar Dalmia Aged About 52 Years Resident Of Park Avenue Colony, Dhimrapur Raigarh, Tehsil And District - Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. 3 - Dhaniram Khanda, S/o Shri Sankirtan Khanda, Aged about 52 years (wrongly not mentioned in impugned order) R/o Village And Post Gopalpur, (Odisha). 4 - Tejram Sa S/o Shri Jalandhar Sa, Aged About 52 Years R/o Village Tapariya, Distt. Sundargarh (Odisha) ... Applicants versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer (SHO), P.S. - Tamnar, District - Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent For Applicants : Shri Manoj Paranjpe, Sr. Advocate with Shri Kabeer Kalwani, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Ms. Ankita Shukla, PL. GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2026.03.02 18:22:59 +0530 2 Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 02/03/2026 1. This first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 have been filed by the applicants, who are apprehending their arrest in connection with Crime No. 09/2026 registered at Police Station –Tamnaar (Raigarh) for the offences punishable under Sections 115(2), 118(1), 190, 191(2), 191(3), 296, 310(2), 351(3) of BNS, 2023 and 25 & 27 of Arms Act, 1959 [wrongly mentioned in the impugned order as u/s 191(1), 191(3)] 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that a written complaint has been lodged by one Ashish Yadav on 18.01.2026 against the accused persons, for the offence punishable under Section(s) 115(2), 118(1), 190, 191(2), 191(3), 296, 310(2), 351(3) of BNS, 2023 and 25 & 27 of Arms Act, 1959, for the alleged reason that the applicants herein, came, with hoard of weapons like arms, lathi, hockey sticks etc. to the place of the complainant, threatened them to kill, thrashed them, put some spray in their eyes and have taken Rs.15,000/- from them thereby committing the offence Rioting, hurt, unlawful assembly, dacoity and offences punishable under the Arms Act, 1959. 3. Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in this case and in fact 3 they were subjected to assault and harassment by the complainant party. He would submit that the FIR has been lodged at the instance of the complainant association to pressurize and retaliate against the applicants for opposing alleged illegal extortion of Rs.200–300 per truck from transporters entering the State of Chhattisgarh. He would submit that the applicants, being office bearers of a recognized truck association, had visited Raigarh in a representative capacity to resolve disputes and had no criminal intent and the applicants themselves attempted to lodge complaints regarding extortion and assault; however, no action was taken by the police. He would submit that co-accused persons namely Gopal Krishna Goenka & Vipin Agrawal have been granted anticipatory bail this Court in MCRCA No.247/2026 on 13/02/2026. He would submit that the applicants are permanent resident of address shown in the cause title, there is no chance of their absconding and applicants are ready to furnish adequate surety and shall abide by all the directions and conditions, which may be imposed by this Court, therefore, he submits that the present applicants are entitled to be released on anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel, appearing for the non - applicant/State, opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail but do not dispute the fact that co-accused persons have been granted anticipatory bail by this Court. She would submit that applicant No.1 has 4 criminal antecedents in which he has been 4 acquitted, applicant No.2 has 4 criminal antecedents, out of which, in 3 cases he has been acquitted and in one case he is on bail, applicant No.3 has one criminal antecedent in which he has been acquitted and applicant No.4 has no criminal antecedents. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the materials available on record. 6. Considering the facts & circumstances of the case, submission of learned counsel for the parties, materials available on record, considering the fact that co-accused persons namely Gopal Krishna Goenka & Vipin Agrawal have been granted anticipatory bail this Court in MCRCA No.247/2026 on 13/02/2026 and also considering the fact that investigation and trial are likely to take some time, therefore, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the present applicants. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicants – Dhirendra Kumar Pradhan, Ghanshyam aka Bunty Dalmia, Dhaniram Khanda & Tejram Sa, on each of them executing a personal bond and one local surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, they shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) The applicants 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 from disclosing such fact to the 5 Court. (b) The applicants shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) The applicants shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to them by the said Court till disposal of the trial. (d) The applicants and the surety shall submit a copy of their adhaar card along with a coloured postcard full size photo having printed the adhaar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court. (e) The applicants shall not involve themselves in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice gouri