1 2026:CGHC:13528 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 2107 of 2026 Rakesh Sahu S/o Geetaram Sahu Aged About 18 Years R/o Koylari, Police Station- Mungeli, District- Mungeli (C.G.) (Wrongly Mentioned As Bilaspur) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station- Sirgitti, District- Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Respondent For Applicant : Mr. Kunwar Lal Sahu, Advocate For Respondent/State : Mr. Akash Agrawal, P.L. Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal Order On Board 20.03.2026 1. The victim and her father appeared in person before this Court today and objected in granting bail to the applicant. 2. This is the first bail application filed u/s 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No.708/2025 registered at Police Station Sirgitti, District- Bilaspur (CG) for the BHOLA NATH KHATAI Digitally signed by BHOLA NATH KHATAI Date: 2026.03.23 10:47:45 +0530 2 offence punishable under Sections 74, 75(2), 79 of BNS, Section 67 of the Information Technology Act and Sections 8 & 14 of the POCSO Act. 3. As per the prosecution case, the victim’s father made a written report at Sirgitti Police Station stating that 09.12.2025, an acquaintance informed him about an obscene video of his minor daughter being circulated and showed him the footage. Upon questioning, the victim revealed that she had met the applicant through Instagram a year ago, after which they began communicating over the phone. On 20.03.2025, the applicant met her near the Mannadol railway tracks and recorded a video of them kissing without her consent. The applicant then allegedly used this footage to blackmail her, threatening to release it unless she sent him nude videos. Under fear of public exposure, the victim complied. However, once she stopped communicating with him, the applicant allegedly circulated the private video content publicly to defame her. Based on the written report, the applicant was arrested on 27.12.2025. 4. Learned counsel for applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He submits that the FIR was lodged with an inordinate and unexplained delay. No obscene videos or photos of the victim were seized from the applicant’s mobile phone nor is there any evidence of such content being circulated or made viral from his mobile. He further submits that the applicant is in jail since 3 27.12.2025 and there is no likelihood of the trial to be concluded at the earliest. Therefore, considering all these facts, the applicant may be released on bail. 5. Learned State counsel, on the other hand, opposing the bail application submits that the victim was minor at the time of incident and considering the nature of offence, the applicant does not deserve to be released on bail. 6. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 7. Taking into consideration the entire facts and circumstances of the case, particularly the fact that the trial has not commenced, this Court is not inclined to release the applicant on bail at this stage. 8. Accordingly, the present bail application stands rejected. 9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information. Sd/- (Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) Khatai JUDGE