1 2026:CGHC:22143 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 3402 of 2026 1 - Prashant Sahu S/o. Laxman Sahu Aged About 32 Years R/o. Lawan, P.S. Lawan, District- Balodabazar-Bhatapara Chhattisgarh. ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Station House Officer, Police Station Lawan, District- Balodabzar-Bhatapara (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) For Petitioner(s) : Mr. S.B.Pandey, Advocate For Respondent/State : Mr. Rohan Shukla, PL (Hon’ble Shri Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) Order on Board 11/05/2026 The applicant has filed this first bail application under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for grant of regular bail as he is in custody since 03.03.2026 in connection with Crime No. 71/2026 registered at police station Lawan, Balodabazar-Bhatapara (CG) for the 2 offence punishable under Sections 4(a) and 6 of the Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2022. 2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 02.03.2026, the Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Station Lawan, along with the police staff, had proceeded towards Town Lawan for routine patrolling and raid proceedings. During the course of patrolling, on the basis of information received from secret informant, the accused was apprehended at Bazar Chowk, Lawan, while allegedly indulging in illegal gambling activities by writing “Satta-Patti” numbers. Upon search of the accused, one carbon paper, one dot pen and cash amounting to Rs.800/- were seized from his possession. Thereafter, an offence under Sections 4(a) and 6 of the Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2022 was registered against the applicant and the matter was taken up for investigation. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the present offence. It is contended that the articles allegedly seized from the possession of the applicant were merely grocery slips/chits relating to purchases made by him from the market; however, the police, on mere suspicion, treated the same as gambling chits and falsely implicated the applicant in the case. It is further submitted that the offence is triable by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, the charge-sheet has already been filed and therefore, no further custodial interrogation of the applicant is required. Lastly, it is argued that the final conclusion of trial is likely to take considerable time and the applicant has remained in judicial custody since 05.03.2026; hence, he deserves to be enlarged on bail. 3 4. Per contra, learned counsel for the State opposes the bail application and submits that the applicant was apprehended red- handed while indulging in chit gambling activities. It is submitted that the applicant is a habitual offender and as many as eight criminal antecedents of similarnature, pertaining to the period from 2019 to 2025, are registered against him. It is further submitted that out of eight prosecution witnesses, two witnesses have already been examined and the trial is presently in progress. Therefore, considering the antecedents of the applicant and the stage of trial, no case for grant of bail is made out. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary along with other material available on record. 6. Considering the nature and gravity of allegations levelled against the applicant, the material collected during investigation, the seizure of gambling chits from his possession, and further taking into consideration that as many as eight criminal antecedents of similar nature are registered against the present applicant, coupled with the fact that the trial has already commenced and two prosecution witnesses have been examined, this Court is not inclined to enlarge the applicant on bail at this stage. 7. Accordingly, the bail application is hereby rejected. However, the learned trial Court is directed to expedite the trial and conclude the same as expeditiously as possible. However, in the event there is no substantial progress in the trial within a reasonable period, the 4 applicant shall be at liberty to renew his prayer for grant of bail before the competent Court. Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) Judge SUGUNA DUBEY Digitally signed by SUGUNA DUBEY Date: 2026.05.14 11:53:55 +0530