1 2026:CGHC:21674 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 4321 of 2026 Kishore Chhabda S/o Late Shri Gopal Das Chhabda Aged About 50 Years R/o House No. 34, 237, Kanwar Ram Chowk, Byron Bazar, Katora Talab Raipur, P.S. Civil Line Raipur, District- Raipur (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House OfÏcer, Police Station- Civil Line Raipur, District- Raipur (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Rajkumar Sahu, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Ms. Vaishali Mahilong, Deputy Government Advocate. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 08.05.2026 1. This is the second bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 129/2025 registered at Police Station Civil Line, District- Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111 and 3(5) of BNS. 2. The earlier bail application preferred by the applicant, being MCRC No. 1622 of 2026, was rejected on merits by this Court vide order dated 19.02.2026. ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Digitally signed by ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Date: 2026.05.08 19:01:43 +0530 2 3. The case of the prosecution, in a nutshell, is that information was received through the cyber crime reporting portal that certain bank accounts had been fraudulently opened in Finance Bank, Civil Lines Branch, Raipur, and were being used for receiving the proceeds of cyber fraud, whereby the accused persons allegedly embezzled an amount of Rs. 64,10,855/-. Acting upon the directions issued by the Police Headquarters, a report regarding the said incident was forwarded to Police Station Civil Lines, Raipur, where an FIR was registered against several account holders, including the present applicant, for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. 4. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the first bail application of the applicant was rejected on merits by this Court vide order dated 19.02.2026 passed in MCRC No. 1622 of 2026. He further submits that the present second bail application is being preferred on the ground that the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in Criminal Appeal (SLP) No. 4494/2025, has granted regular bail to an identically situated co-accused, namely, Ishika Singh. Thereafter, on the ground of parity, other co-accused persons, namely, Avinash Tandekar, Krishna Ghodesawar, and Jayant Ghosh, have also been granted bail by this Court vide orders dated 08.01.2026, 28.01.2026, and 15.04.2026 passed in MCRC Nos. 148 of 2026, 902 of 2026, and 3319 of 2026, respectively. Therefore, it is contended that the present applicant is also entitled to be released on bail on the ground of parity, as his case is similar to that of the aforesaid co-accused persons. 5. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case. She further submits that the applicant along with co-accused persons, 3 was involved in organized cyber fraud and facilitated the diversion and circulation of proceeds of crime by opening and using multiple banks accounts, but could not dispute the fact that co-accused, Ishika Singh has already been granted bail by the Hon’be Supreme Court in Criminal Appeal No.4494/2025 arising out of SLP (Crl.) No.13678/2025. 6. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 7. From the perusal of the record, it transpires that this is the second bail application filed by the applicant, as the first bail application was rejected by this Court vide order dated 19.02.2026 passed in MCRC No. 1622 of 2026. However, considering the fact that the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in Criminal Appeal (SLP) No. 4494/2025, has granted regular bail to an identically situated co-accused, namely, Ishika Singh, and thereafter, on the ground of parity, other co-accused persons, namely, Avinash Tandekar, Krishna Ghodesawar, and Jayant Ghosh, have also been granted bail by this Court vide orders dated 08.01.2026, 28.01.2026, and 15.04.2026 passed in MCRC Nos. 148 of 2026, 902 of 2026, and 3319 of 2026, respectively, and further considering that the charge-sheet has already been filed, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in the present case on the ground of parity. 8. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed. Let the Applicant - Kishore Chhabda, involved in Crime No. 129/2025 registered at Police Station Civil Line, District- Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111 and 3(5) of BNS, be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond with two sureties in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for 4 evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law. (ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufÏcient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 351 of BNSS. If in the opinion of the trial court absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufÏcient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against him in accordance with law. 9. OfÏce is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Abhishek