1 2026:CGHC:23317 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 766 of 2026 Prince Jaiswal S/o Arun Jaiswal Aged About 30 Years R/o Bouripara, Ambikapur, District - Sarguja (Chhattisgarh) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Kotwali Ambikapur, District- Sarguja, Chhattisgarh. ... Non-Applicant For Applicant : Mr. Ishan Verma, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Mr. S.S.Baghel, Government Advocate. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 15.05.2026 1. This anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No. 742/2025 registered at Police Station – Kotwali Ambikapur, District- Sarguja (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 420, 409, 120B of Indian Penal Code and Sections 3 and 7 of Essential Commodities Act. 2. As per the prosecution case, an FIR has been registered at Police Station Kotwali, Ambikapur on the basis of a complaint lodged by the Food Inspector, alleging therein that a joint inspection of the government fair price shops operated through Jan Kalyan Food Security, Nutrition and Consumer Service Cooperative Society, Ghutrapara was conducted along with the Assistant Food Officer, Ambikapur (Rural), and thereafter PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2026.05.15 18:09:02 +0530 2 an inquiry report was submitted before the Collector (Food Branch), Ambikapur. During the course of the said inquiry, on the basis of an alleged physical verification conducted for the period from September, 2022 to 31.03.2024, an alleged shortage of food grains valued at Rs.64,94,120.67/- was detected, which included rice, sugar and gram. In relation to the said alleged shortage, different persons have been held responsible in respect of different fair price shops, namely Shop Nos. 391001029, 391001054 and 391001071. 3. It has been argued by learned counsel for the applicant that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that, in respect of Fair Price Shop No. 391001054, the President, Pawan Singh, and the Vice-President, Smt. Sunita Paikra, being the licence holders, were responsible for stock control, maintenance of accounts, and all administrative functions. In contrast, the applicant was engaged only as a vendor for a short period and had neither control over the stock nor any administrative or financial authority. Thus, his role was extremely limited and peripheral. It is also submitted that other co-accused persons have already been granted regular bail by this Court vide orders dated 06.02.2026, 05.01.2026, and 27.02.2026 passed in MCRC Nos. 462/2026, 982/2026, 9541/2025, and MCRC No. 2030/2026, respectively. It is further submitted that the applicant has no previous criminal antecedents. Therefore, learned counsel prays that the applicant be enlarged on bail. 4. On the other hand, the learned State counsel opposes the bail application of the applicant and submits that from the perusal of the case record, it is revealed that during the physical verification conducted with respect to Government Fair Price Shop Nos. 391001071, 391001029 and 391001054 operated through Jan Kalyan Food Security, Nutrition and 3 Consumer Service Cooperative Society, Ghutrapara, for the period from September 2022 to 31 March 2024, irregularities were found in all the shops, namely shortage/misappropriation of rice measuring 1631.29 quintals valued at Rs.61,62,267.96/-, sugar measuring 10.43 quintals valued at Rs.49,160.62/-, and gram measuring 48.34 quintals valued at Rs.2,92,692.09/-. Thus, the total value of irregularities relating to all food grain items amounted to Rs.64,94,120.67/-, which is reflected from the documents annexed with the case diary. Hence, the applicant is not entitled for grant of 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, nature and gravity of allegation leveled against the applicants and the fact that the applicant was engaged only as a vendor for a short period and had neither control over the stock nor any administrative or financial authority, and other co-accused persons have already been granted regular bail by this Court vide orders dated 06.02.2026, 05.01.2026, and 27.02.2026 passed in MCRC Nos. 462/2026, 982/2026, 9541/2025, and MCRC No. 2030/2026, respectively, further the applicant has no previous criminal antecedents this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be granted anticipatory bail in this case. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant - Prince Jaiswal, respectively on executing a personal bond with one surety each in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to 4 dissuade him from disclosing such fact to the Court. (b) The applicant shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) The applicant shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial. (d)The applicant and the surety shall submit a copy of his adhaar card alongwith a colored postcard full size photo having printed the adhaar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court. (e)The applicant shall not involve himself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Preeti