1 2026:CGHC:10298 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 325 of 2026 Vivek Chandrakar S/o Radhelal Chandrakar Aged About 33 Years Occupation Daily Wages Employee, Paddy Procurement Center Pendrikala, R/o Village Neurgaon, Tahsil- Pandariya, District Kabirdham C.G. ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Kunda, District Kabirdham C.G. ... Respondent For Applicant : Shri Ratnesh Kumar Agrawal, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Shri Shaleen Singh Baghel, G.A. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order On Board 27/02/2026 1. The applicant has preferred this application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), for grant of anticipatory bail, apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.15/2026 registered at Police Station Kunda, District Kabirdham (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence punishable GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2026.02.28 14:48:49 +0530 2 under Sections 316(3), 316(5), 318(4), 336(3), 338, 340 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 12.01.2026 enquiry team found 2272 quintal paddy shortage at Paddy Procurement Center Pendrikala, District Kabirdham (C.G.), wherein applicant was working as Incharge, therefore applicant is liable for the said shortage and alleged FIR has been lodged by the Branch Manager, Zila Sahakari Kendriya Bank Maryadit Rajnandgaon, Branch Kunda, District Kabirdham (C.G.). 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is contended that one Gulshan Diwan had purchased paddy during the Kharif Marketing Period from 19.11.2025 to 27.11.2025, whereas the applicant purchased paddy from 28.11.2025 to 11.01.2026 at Paddy Procurement Centre, Pendrikala. No proper enquiry has been conducted with respect to the alleged shortage during the respective periods of purchase. It is further submitted that as per the panchnamas dated 04.01.2026 and 11.01.2026, the shortage is shown as 2564 bags (1025.60 quintals), whereas the allegation in the prosecution case is of shortage of 2272 quintals, which is contradictory and creates serious doubt. He would submit that the applicant had not taken charge of the stock purchased by Girish Diwan, yet the alleged shortage of that period has been attributed to the applicant. He would submit that the applicant is ready to abide by any conditions imposed by this and 3 is a permanent resident of Village Neurgaon, Tahsil Pandariya, District Kabirdham (C.G.) and there is no likelihood of absconding, therefore he prays to enlarge the applicant on anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail. He would submit that on 12.01.2026 enquiry team found 2272 quintal paddy shortage at Paddy Procurement Center Pendrikala, District Kabirdham (C.G.), wherein applicant was working as Incharge, therefore applicant is liable for the said shortage and he is not entitled to be granted anticipatory bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the materials available on record. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, submission of learned counsel for the parties, materials available on record, considering the nature of allegation levelled against the applicant and also considering the fact that shortage of 2272 quintal paddy was found at Paddy Procurement Center Pendrikala, District Kabirdham (C.G.), wherein the applicant was working as In- charge and also considering the fact that investigation is still going on, therefore I am not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant. 7. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant - Vivek Chandrakar, involved in Crime No.15/2026 registered at 4 Police Station Kunda, District Kabirdham (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 316(3), 316(5), 318(4), 336(3), 338, 340 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 is rejected. Sd/-Sd S Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice gouri