1 2026:CGHC:23831 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 2113 of 2026 Praveen Verma S/o Ramashankar Verma, Aged About 31 Years R/o Village Sarora, Police Station Tilda- Newra, District- Raipur (C.G.) ... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Tilda- Newra, District- Raipur (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Pradeep Rathore, Advocate. For Respondent(s) : Mr. Saumya Rai, Dy. G.A. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 15/06/2026 1. This is the first 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. 543/2025 registered at Police Station Tilda- Newra, District- Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN Digitally signed by AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN 2 under Sections 80(2), 3(5) of BNS. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that , the present applicant along with the co-accused persons allegedly subjected the deceased to cruelty and harassment in connection with the demand for dowry after her marriage. It is alleged that being unable to bear such harassment, the deceased consumed poison and was admitted for medical treatment, during which she succumbed to her condition and died on 30.10.2025. On the basis of these allegations, the FIR was registered against the applicant and other accused persons. Hence, the bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has not committed any offence and he has been falsely implicated in offence in question. He further submits that the present applicant is the husband of the deceased, the marriage of the applicant/husband with the wife/deceased was solemnized in the year 2025, the deceased has committed suicide by consuming rat poison as it appears from the viscera report. He also submits that only general allegation against the applicant has been leveled that the family members of the applicant including the applicant used to demand dowery, but there is no specific allegation of the fact that soon before the death any demand was made. He later submits that charges have not been framed against the applicant though the date fixed for framing of charges was 13.05.2026. Lastly, two of the identically situated co-accused persons (father- 3 in-law and mother-in-law), Ramashankar Verma and Somlata Verma have already been granted bail by this court vide orders dated 16.01.2026 and 30.01.2026 passed in MCRC Nos. 600 of 2026 and 1034 of 2026, respectively. The applicant is in jail since 05.12.2025, the applicant has no criminal antecedent, charge- sheet has been filed 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. He further submits that the applicant allegedly in collusion with co-accused (mother-in-law and father-in-law), harassed the deceased in connection with the demand for dowry after her marriage, which allegedly drove her to consume poison, resulting in her death during treatment on 30.10.2025. Therefore, the applicant is not entitled for grant of bail. 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 offence, period of detention of the applicant since 05.12.2025, the fact that though the allegation against the applicant that he along with the co-accused (mother-in-law and father-in-law), harassed the deceased in connection with the demand for dowry after her marriage, which allegedly drove her to consume poison, resulting in her death during treatment on 4 30.10.2025, but considering the fact that no specific allegation of the fact that soon before the death any demand was made and two of the identically situated co-accused persons (father-in-law and mother-in-law), Ramashankar Verma and Somlata Verma have already been granted bail by this court vide orders dated 16.01.2026 and 30.01.2026 passed in MCRC Nos. 600 of 2026 and 1034 of 2026, respectively, further the applicant has no criminal antecedent and charge-sheet has been filed, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case. 7. Accordingly, the application is allowed. 8. Let the Applicant-Praveen Verma, involved in Crime No. 543/2025 registered at Police Station Tilda- Newra, District- Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 80(2), 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 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 sufficient 5 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 sufficient 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. However, this Court hopes and trusts that the trial Court shall make an earnest endeavour to conclude the trial as expeditiously as possible within a period of six months from the date of receipt of this order in accordance with law, if there is no legal impediment. 10. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Akhil