1 2026:CGHC:23786 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 4727 of 2026 Sachin Kumar @ Bittu S/o Ramchandra Prasad Aged About 25 Years R/o- Ward No. 10, Mahuapara, Police Station- Gandhi Nagar, Ambikapur District- Surguja (C.G.) (As Per Charge Sheet) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Through Police Station- Balrampur, District- Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.) ... Non-Applicant For Applicant : Mr. Shivendu Pandya, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Mr. S.S. Baghel, Government Advocate. H on’ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 15.06.2026 1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 40/2025 registered at Police Station – Balrampur, District - Balrampur-Ramnujganj (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 318(4), 61(2) (a), 338, 339, 340 and 341 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. As per the prosecution case, the Superintendent of Police, Balrampur, forwarded information to Police Station Balrampur, District Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.), regarding the opening and operation of certain mule accounts in different commercial banks in the names of various persons. PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2026.06.16 11:55:58 +0530 2 The said accounts were subjected to inquiry through the Cyber Crime Coordination Centre Portal under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. During the inquiry, the Cyber Cell allegedly found that Account No. 1427018440898043 maintained with Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, Branch Balrampur, in the name of Shoaib Khan, was being operated in conspiracy with his associates for obtaining unlawful monetary benefits. It was alleged that the said account was used as a mule account for transferring, withdrawing, and laundering the proceeds of cyber crime. Upon investigation, it was found that such accounts were maintained in the names of several individuals, including the present applicant and other co-accused persons. The Cyber Crime Coordination Centre Portal allegedly detected fraudulent transactions amounting to Rs. 8,22,146/- through the aforesaid mule account. On the basis of the information received, Police Station Balrampur, District Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.), registered an FIR against Shoaib Khan. During the course of investigation, other co-accused persons, including the present applicant, were implicated primarily on the basis of the memorandum statements of the co-accused. The present applicant does not hold or operate any mule account. It is alleged that the applicant, along with other co-accused persons, committed the offence of cheating by facilitating transactions through other accounts. Accordingly, Crime No. 40/2025 was registered against the applicant and other accused persons for offences punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 318(4), 61(2)(a), 338, 339, 340 and 341 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in this case. It is argued that the co-accused person, namely Nitesh Puri has already been granted bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 16.02.2026 in Criminal Appeal No. 941/2026 3 (arising out of SLP (Crl.) No. 16083 of 2025. A copy of the said order is filed herewith as Annexure A-3. Another co-accused persons, namely, Abhishek Jaiswal, Rajesh Sonkar, Sukhdev Sahu and Prashant have been granted regular bail by this Court vide order dated 10.04.2026, 20.04.2026, 23.04.2026 and 08.05.2026, respectively. A copy of the said order is filed herewith as Annexure A-4(collectively). It is further submitted that the applicant has one previous criminal antecedents, which has been disposed of, further the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case, and the applicant has been in jail since 23.04.2025 As the conclusion of the trial is likely to take considerable time, the applicant seeks regular bail on the ground of parity. 4. Learned counsel for the State/non-applicant opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case but could not dispute the fact that identically situated other co-accused persons have already been granted bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and by this Court. 5. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of allegation levelled against the applicant and the fact that the co-accused person, namely Nitesh Puri has already been granted bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 16.02.2026 in Criminal Appeal No. 941/2026 (arising out of SLP (Crl.) No. 16083 of 2025, a copy of the said order is filed herewith as Annexure A-3, another co-accused persons, namely, Abhishek Jaiswal, Rajesh Sonkar, Sukhdev Sahu and Prashant have been granted regular bail by this Court vide order dated 10.04.2026, 20.04.2026, 23.042026 and 08.05.2026, respectively, a 4 copy of the said order is filed herewith as Annexure A-4(collectively), the applicant has one previous criminal antecedents, the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case, and the applicant has been in jail since 23.04.2025, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case on the ground of parity. 7. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed. Let the applicant - Sachin Kumar @ Bittu, involved in Crime No. 40/2025 registered at Police Station – Balrampur, District - Balrampur-Ramnujganj (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 318(4), 61(2) (a), 338, 339, 340 and 341 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, 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 she shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for 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 her absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 269 of BNS. (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 5 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 BNS. (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 sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial Court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against her in accordance with law. 8. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance forthwith. - Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Preeti