1 2026:CGHC:22314 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 724 of 2026 Vansh Kumar Dewangan S/o Bhuvan Lal Dewangan Aged About 22 Years R/o Village Birra, Police Station Birra, District Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Nawagarh, District Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Ankush Gupta, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Mr. Soumya Rai, Dy. Government Advocate. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order On Board 12.05.2026 1. The applicant has preferred this application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of Anticipatory Bail, apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No. 128/2026, registered at Police Station – Navagarh, District – Janjgir - Champa (C.G.) for the alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111(2)(B), 318(4), 3(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the applicant is alleged to have used his bank account (Account No. 50100686983283), held in his name at HDFC Bank, Nawagarh Branch, as a mule account for receiving ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Digitally signed by ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Date: 2026.05.13 11:12:32 +0530 2 money obtained through cyber fraud. In this regard, an amount of Rs. 1,18,049/- was received on 17.02.2024, Rs. 17,000/- on 19.02.2024, and Rs. 45,000/- on 20.02.2024 in the said account. Thereafter, the applicant was booked by Police Station Nawagarh in Crime No. 128/2026 for offences punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 112(b), 318, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is submitted that the applicant had, at one point in time, handed over two bank accounts, one with Axis Bank and another with HDFC Bank to the main accused, and therefore, the alleged transactions through both accounts form part of the same transaction arising out of a common set of facts. It is further submitted that an FIR concerning the Axis Bank account had already been registered earlier, in connection with which the applicant was arrested, remained in judicial custody for about four months, and was subsequently enlarged on bail by this Court in MCRC No. 8911 of 2025 vide order dated 11.12.2025. Learned counsel further submits that the present FIR relating to the HDFC Bank account also arises out of the same transaction, involves the same modus operandi, and concerns the same main accused. Therefore, the registration of a separate FIR and the proposed arrest of the applicant amount to an abuse of the process of law. It is also contended that the applicant had no knowledge of the transactions carried out through the said HDFC Bank account, including the amounts credited or withdrawn, and that the account was not even linked to the applicant’s mobile number. It is further submitted that the applicant has only one criminal antecedent, in which he has already been granted regular bail by this Court. Hence, it is prayed that the applicant be granted anticipatory bail. 3 4. Learned State counsel opposes the anticipatory bail application, submitting that the applicant was actively involved in facilitating the offence by providing his bank accounts to the main accused for illegal financial transactions. He also submits that the present FIR discloses the applicant’s involvement in separate transactions through the HDFC Bank account, and the seriousness of the allegations requires thorough investigation. Considering the applicant’s role, criminal antecedent, and the need for custodial interrogation, it is prayed that the anticipatory bail application be rejected. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, particularly that the present FIR appears to arise out of the same transaction for which the applicant has already been granted bail earlier by this Court, the nature of allegations, the absence of any direct evidence showing the applicant’s active knowledge of the transactions, and without commenting on the merits of the case, this Court is inclined to grant benefit of anticipatory bail to the applicant. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant - Vansh Kumar Dewangan, on executing a personal bond and one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting OfÏcer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) he shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such fact to the Court. (b) he shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. 4 (c) he 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 along with a coloured postcard full size photo having printed the adhaar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court. (e) he shall not involve himself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Abhishek