1 2026:CGHC:23014 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR M.Cr.C No.4556 of 2026 1 - Mohammad Munaf Khatri Son Of Late Mohammad Harun Khatri Aged About 48 Years Resident Of Ward No.06, Kabir Nagar, Nearby Bharat Gas, Basna, Police Station Basna, District Mahasamund (C.G.) 2 - Tahira Bano Wife Of Mohammad Munaf Khatri Aged About 48 Years Resident Of Ward No.06, Kabir Nagar, Nearby Bharat Gas, Basna, Police Station Basna, District Mahasamund (C.G.) ... Applicants versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Of Police Station Kurud, District Dhamtari (C.G.) ... Non-applicant _____________________________________________________ For Applicants :Mr. Anil Kumar Gupta, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State :Mr. Sourabh Sahu, PL. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Digitally signed by SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Date: 2026.05.15 17:37:04 +0530 2 14.05.2026 1. This is the 2nd 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 No.165/2025 registered at Police Station – Kurud, District- Dhamtari (C.G.), for the offence under Sections 331(4), 305(घ) & 111 r/w Section 3(5) of the BNS, 2023. Earlier application was rejected on merits vide order dated 10.12.2025 passed in M.Cr.C No.7951/2025. 2. As per the brief prosecution story, the FIR was lodged by the complainant Jitendra Nath Yogi at Police Station Kurud, District Dhamtari (C.G.), alleging that some unknown persons committed theft at Chandi Temple, Kurud and stole ornaments and cash kept in the donation box. On the basis of the said report, offence under Sections 331(4) and 305(d) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered against unknown persons. During investigation, the police recorded the memorandum statement of co-accused Jahir @ Sameer Khan, wherein he disclosed that he, along with the present Applicants and other co-accused persons, had committed theft in various temples. Pursuant thereto, memorandum statements of the Applicants were also recorded and 3 recoveries were effected at their instance. On the basis of the said report, the police registered an offence as mentioned above against the present Applicants. Hence, this application. 3. Learned counsel for the Applicants submits that the present Applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in this case. He further submits that co-accused Mahmuda Begum has been granted bail in various crimes vide order dated 20.04.2026 passed in M.Cr.C Nos.3543/2025, 3566/2026, 3560/2026, 3555/2026 and 3544/2026. He lastly submits that the present Applicants are behind the bars since 27.06.2025 and the trial is likely to take considerable time, therefore, they may be granted regular bail on the ground of parity. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the bail application. 5. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and considering the facts and circumstances of the case, particularly the fact that co-accused Mahmuda Begum has been granted bail only in other connected crimes and not in the present crime, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the present Applicants at this stage. Accordingly, the bail application is rejected. 4 6. Accordingly, the bail application of the Applicants – Mohammad Munaf Khatri and Tahira Ban involved in Crime No.165/2025 registered at Police Station – Kurud, District- Dhamtari (C.G.), for the offence under Sections 331(4), 305(घ) & 111 r/w Section 3(5) of the BNS, 2023, is hereby rejected. 7. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Priya