1 2026:CGHC:22326 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 4431 of 2026 Panna Lal Sahu S/o Shri Liladhar Sahu Aged About 33 Years R/o House No. 108, Near Bajrang Chowk Village Parastarai P.S. and Tahsil Dharsiwa, Distt. Raipur (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, (SHO) P.S. Civil Lines Distt. - Raipur (C.G.) ... Non-Applicant For Applicant : Mr. Shalvin Sharma, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Mr. Priyank Rathi, Government Advocate. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 1 2.05.2026 1. This is the second bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 290/2025 registered at Police Station – Civil Lines, District - Raipur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111, 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 42(3)(e) of Telegraph Act. 2. The earlier bail application of the applicant being MCRC No. 8362/2025 was rejected by this Court vide order dated 17.12.2025 on merits. 3. The brief case of the prosecution is that on 26.06.2025, the Sub-Inspector PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2026.05.13 14:59:28 +0530 2 of Police Station Civil Lines, Raipur lodged the present First Information Report on the basis of information received from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (Samnway Portal). It is alleged that certain unknown accused persons, in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy, fraudulently obtained unlawful monetary gain by misusing several mobile SIM cards. During the course of enquiry, it was revealed that as many as 41 SIM numbers were allegedly involved in the said illegal activities. It is further the case of the prosecution that during the period between 04.01.2024 and 02.03.2025, the aforesaid SIM numbers were allegedly used for committing cyber fraud, and by such fraudulent means, a total amount of Rs.18,52,654/- was dishonestly obtained from various innocent persons. The prosecution has further alleged that the present applicant, along with other co-accused persons, was instrumental in the use of the said SIM cards and thereby deceived innocent persons into parting with their money, which was subsequently misappropriated. On the basis of the aforesaid allegations, Crime No. 290/2025 was registered at Police Station Civil Lines, Raipur for the alleged commission of offences punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 42(3)(e) of the Indian Telegraph Act. 4. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. He further submits that the first bail application filed by the applicant was rejected by this Court on merits. The present is the second bail application, preferred on the ground that the co-accused, namely, Shivnand Chauhan, has already been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 24.03.2026 passed in MCRC No. 1698/2026. It is further submitted that, so far as the progress of the trial is concerned, out of 16 prosecution witnesses, only one witness 3 has been examined till date. It is also contended that the applicant has no previous criminal antecedents, and the applicant has been in judicial custody since 02.09.2025. Therefore, it is prayed that the applicant be enlarged on bail. 5. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State opposes the bail application and submits that this Court has already rejected the bail application of the applicant vide order dated 17.12.2025 on merits. It is further submitted that the co-accused, who has been granted bail by this Court, stands on a different footing. He further submits that the second bail application filed by one of the co-accused, namely, Ashish Singh, has already been rejected by this Court vide order dated 04.05.2026 passed in MCRC No. 4107/2026. Therefore, the present applicant is not entitled to be enlarged on bail. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the allegations levelled against the applicant, and the fact that the first bail application of the applicant has already been rejected by this Court vide order dated 17.12.2025 on merits, this being the second bail application filed on the ground that the co-accused has been granted bail by this Court, though on a different footing, and further considering that the second bail application of one of the co-accused, namely, Ashish Singh, has already been rejected by this Court vide order dated 04.05.2026 passed in MCRC No. 4107/2026, and further considering the status of the trial, wherein out of 16 prosecution witnesses only one witness has been examined till date, this Court is of the opinion that it is not a fit case to enlarge the applicant on regular bail. 7. Accordingly, the bail application of the applicant - Panna Lal Sahu, filed under Section 483 of BNSS, involved in Crime No. 290/2025 registered at Police Station – Civil Lines, District - Raipur (C.G.), for the offence 4 punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111, 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 42(3)(e) of Telegraph Act, is rejected. 8. However, this Court hope and trust that the trial Court shall make an earnest endeavour to conclude the trial within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order, if there is no legal impediment. 9. Office is directed to send a copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. - Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Preeti