1 2026:CGHC:23267 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 4607 of 2026 Vinod Tandan S/o Laiji Tandan Aged About 38 Years R/o Village Sodhi (Nijami) P.S. Pathariya District Mungeli C.G. ... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Officer In-Charge Police Station City Kotwali District Mungeli C.G. ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Tanuj Patwardhan, Advocate. For Respondent(s) : Mr. S.S. Baghel, Government Advocate. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 15.05.2026 1. The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 77/2025, registered at Police Station City Kotwali District Mungeli (CG) for the offence punishable AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN Digitally signed by AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN 2 under Sections 111, 311(2), 317(4), 317(5) and 3(5) of BNS. 2. The prosecution story in brief, is that the Cyber Cell, Mungeli received information through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the use of several bank accounts for routing money obtained through cyber fraud. During investigation, it was found that between 01.01.2024 and 28.02.2025, an amount of about Rs.5.76 lakhs obtained through cyber fraud had been deposited in various bank accounts in District Mungeli. It is alleged that several account holders and facilitators knowingly allowed their bank accounts, ATM cards and related documents to be used for illegal transactions connected with cyber fraud. During investigation, co-accused persons disclosed that they had provided their bank accounts, Aadhaar cards, ATM cards and mobile numbers to persons operating the cyber fraud racket. It was further found that huge transactions amounting to nearly Rs.4 crores had taken place through 22 bank accounts linked with the racket. The present applicant/accused, Vinod Kumar Tandon, was implicated during further investigation. It is alleged that he had opened bank accounts in Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda and Bandhan Bank and had sent the ATM cards of those accounts through post to one Naveen Basant, resident of Lucknow, in lieu of monetary gain. The prosecution alleges that the applicant facilitated the operation of mule accounts used for cyber fraud transactions. On the basis of his disclosure statement and documentary evidence collected during 3 investigation, the applicant was arrested on 07.02.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. Hence, the bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submits that the prosecution has failed to establish that the applicant had any knowledge regarding the commission of the alleged offence or that he was aware that the bank account in question was to be used for perpetrating cyber fraud. He also submits that first bail application of co-accused, namely, Ishwar Singh Ghritlahre and Sevak Ram Sahu have already been rejected by this Court vide orders dated 20.06.2025 and 17.09.2025 passed in MCRC Nos. 2908 of 2025 and 6387 of 2025, respectively and first & second bail application of co- accused, Sanjeev Jangde have been rejected by this Court vide orders dated 15.07.2025 and 24.11.2025 passed in MCRC Nos. 5533 of 2025 and 9510 of 2025. The applicant is in jail since 07.02.2026 and the trial is likely to take some time for its conclusion. Therefore, he prays for grant of bail to the applicant. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case before the competent Court. He further submits that the applicant allegedly opened bank accounts in three different banks and, for monetary gain, handed over/sent the ATM cards and related banking facilities to persons involved in a cyber 4 fraud racket, thereby facilitating transactions of money obtained through cyber fraud. The prosecution alleges that the applicant knowingly assisted in operating mule accounts used for routing and concealing illegal proceeds of cyber fraud. So far as the bail applications co-accused persons are concerned, first bail applications of co-accused, namely, Ishwar Singh Ghritlahre and Sevak Ram Sahu and first & second bail application of co- accused, namely, Sanjeev Jangde have been rejected by this Court. Therefore, the applicant is also not entitled for grant of bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the facts & circumstances of the case, nature & gravity of the offence, material available in the case dairy and the fact that the applicant allegedly opened bank accounts in Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda and Bandhan Bank and, in lieu of monetary gain, provided/sent the ATM cards and banking credentials of those accounts to persons involved in a cyber fraud syndicate, particularly to one Naveen Basant, resident of Lucknow, the applicant knowingly facilitated the operation of mule accounts used for receiving, routing and concealing money obtained through cyber fraud transactions and during investigation, substantial suspicious transactions linked with the cyber fraud racket were traced through such accounts, and on the basis of the applicant’s disclosure statement and documentary 5 evidence collected during investigation, his involvement in the alleged offence has been found prima facie established. Furthermore, first bail application of co-accused, namely, Ishwar Singh Ghritlahre and Sevak Ram Sahu have already been rejected by this Court vide orders dated 20.06.2025 and 17.09.2025 passed in MCRC Nos. 2908 of 2025 and 6387 of 2025, respectively and first & second bail application of co- accused, Sanjeev Jangde have been rejected by this Court vide orders dated 15.07.2025 and 24.11.2025 passed in MCRC Nos. 5533 of 2025 and 9510 of 2025, as such, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, 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 applicant-Vinod Tandan, involved in Crime No. 77/2025, registered at Police Station City Kotwali District Mungeli (CG) for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 311(2), 317(4), 317(5) and 3(5) of BNS, is rejected. 8. Needless to say that the trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed and concluded the trial expeditiously. 9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Akhil