1 2026:CGHC:14114 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 2766 of 2026 Pradeep Soni S/o Sachin Soni, Aged About 23 Years R/o Shanti Nagar, Munsakhedi, Police Station Tilaknagar, District- Indore, Madhya Pradesh ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Sation Sakri, District- Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) ... Respondent For Applicant : Shri Barun Kumar Mishra, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Ms. Ankita Shukla, PL. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 24.03.2026 1. This is the second bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No.101/2025 registered at Police Station Sakri, District – Bilaspur GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2026.03.27 12:53:33 +0530 2 (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 305(A), 331(4), 3(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. The earlier bail application of the applicant has been rejected by this Hon’ble Court vide order dated 29.08.2025 passed in MCRC No. 6307 of 2025 on merits. 3. As per the prosecution story, in a nutshell, is that the complainant Priyanshu Mishra lodged a report at Sakri Police Station, District Bilaspur, on 26.02.2025, stating that on 19.02.2025, at around 07:00 PM, he locked his house and went with his family to Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, to attend his sister's wedding. On returning home on 26.02.2025, at about 08:00 AM, he found that the latch on the main door was broken. On entering the house, he noticed that the lock of the almirah in his room was broken, the belongings were scattered, and the following items were missing from the almirah i.e. cash amounting to 30,000/-, one gold ring, one pair of silver anklets, the total value of the stolen property was approximately 60,000/-. The theft had been committed by some unknown person(s). On this basis, an FIR was registered at Sakri Police Station against an unknown accused under Sections 331(4), 305(a), and 3(5) of the Indian Penal Code, and the matter was taken up for investigation. During the course of investigation, information was received that in connection with Crime No. 366/2024, registered at Pandri Police Station, District Raipur, under Sections 331(4), 305(A), and 3(5) of BNS, the accused persons Pradeep Soni, Anil Bhuria, and Sohbat Singh were taken 3 into custody on 02.03.2025, and their memorandum statements were recorded. In their statements, they confessed to committing theft in Ashma City, Bilaspur, as well. The stolen property from the house of the complainant was recovered from the possession of the said accused persons in connection with Crime No. 366/2024 of Pandri Police Station. After completion of investigation, the charge sheet was filed against the accused before the competent Court. 4. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the present offence. There is no incriminating material against the applicant which could hold him guilty of the offences punishable under Sections 331(4), 305A, and 3(5) of the BNS. He submits that there is no eyewitness to the aforesaid incident, and no name has been mentioned in the FIR, as the same has been registered against an unknown person. He also submits that the applicant was arrested solely on the basis of memorandum statements recorded in Crime No. 366/2024 under Sections 331(4), 305A, and 3(5) of the BNS at Police Station Pandri, District Raipur (C.G.) (Criminal Case No. 16070/2025 pending before the Trial Court, District Raipur). The witnesses to the memorandum and seizure have turned hostile during the trial, hence, the applicant cannot be detained on mere suspicion and deserves to be released on bail. He further submits that there is delay in the trial of the aforementioned case. The prosecution has examined only 1 witness out of 6 prosecution witnesses who has 4 turned hostile, therefore, an innocent person cannot be kept in jail without any justifiable reason. He submits that the applicant has been in custody since 17.03.2025, conclusion of the trial is likely to take some more time. Therefore, he prays for grant of regular bail to the applicant. 5. Learned counsel appearing for the State/non-applicant would oppose the bail application of the applicant. 6. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 7. Considering the above submissions, as only one witness has turned hostile, the same cannot be a ground for releasing the applicant on bail, therefore, I am not inclined to grant regular bail to the present applicant. 8. Accordingly, the second bail application of the applicant - Pradeep Soni, involved in Crime No.101/2025 registered at Police Station Sakri, District – Bilaspur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 305(A), 331(4), 3(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, is rejected. 9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information. - SSd/-d/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice gouri