1 2026:CGHC:24404 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 5078 of 2026 • Manoj Kumar Sahu S/o Ramlakhan Sahu Aged About 23 Years R/o Village Targawan Patna, P. S. Patna, District Korea (C.G.) ... Applicant(s) versus • State of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Baikhuntpur, District Korea (C.G.). ... Respondent(s) (Cause title is taken from Case Information System) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Tapan Kumar Chandra, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Mr. Shailendra Sharma, Panel Lawyer Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 17/06/2026 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.412/2025 registered at Police Station – Baikunthpur District - Korea, (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 308(2) and 3(5) of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 20.12.2025, the complainant Amresh Kumar Pandey (Patwari), Baikhuntpur, District- Korea (C.G.) submitted a written application stating that an unknown person made a Whatsapp call from mobile number 8103076247 to VAISHALI LUCKY NAGARIA Digitally signed by VAISHALI LUCKY NAGARIA Date: 2026.06.18 17:38:15 +0530 2 his mobile number 9009400833 and sent a video clip which was automatically deleted immediately after it was viewed. In the said video, an attempt was made to falsely implicate the complainant by showing that money was being offered to him in lieu of some official work & thereafter, he was threatened that the video would be made viral on social media unless an amount of Rs. 2,50,000/- was paid in cash for deleting the same. It is further alleged that on 21.12.2025, the complainant again received a WhatsApp call asking him to arrange the money and come to the Bachra Pondi area. Acting upon the information, the complainant alongwith the accompanying staff & witnesses proceeded to the said area for investigation. During the process, the unknown caller kept contacting the complainant through WhatsApp messages & a VPN number, directing him to different places around Bachra Pondi & insisting that the money be kept hidden near a Mahua tree on the Bachra-Baima Road. the complainant left the money at the said place, one person came there to collect it & was immediately surrounded & apprehended by the police. On inquiry, he disclosed his name as Arjun Sahu, aged about 23 years, resident of Amhar, police Station Patna, who allegedly confessed that he alongwith his associate Manoj Sahu, aged about 24 years, resident of Village Targawan, Police Station Patna, District Korea (C.G.) had committed the act of threatening & blackmailing the complainant the complainant for extorting Rs. 2,50,000/- while Manoj Sahu managed to flee from the spot. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant would submit that the applicant has not committed any offence and he has been falsely implicated in offence in question. The applicant is in jail since 04.05.2026. The charge-sheet has been filed and no further investigation is required, 3 however, conclusion of the trial is likely to take some time. He further submitted that the similarly situated co-accused, namely, Arjun Sahu has already been granted regular bail by this Court in MCRC No.2291 of 2026, vide order dated 11.03.2026 and as such, on the ground of parity, he prays for grant of bail to the applicant. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel appearing for the respondent/State opposes the bail application. He further submits that applicant has one criminal antecedent and details of the same are mentioned in the bail application in part-D, but he could not disputed the fact that co-accused person, namely, Arjun Sahu has already been granted regular bail by this Court in MCRC No.2291 of 2026, vide order dated 11.03.2026. 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, the fact that the conclusion of the trial may take some time and further that co-accused person, Arjun Sahu has already been granted regular bail by this Court in MCRC No.2291 of 2026, vide order dated 11.03.2026, 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. Let the Applicant- Manoj Kumar Sahu, involved in Crime No.412/2025 registered at Police Station – Baikunthpur District - Korea, (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 308(2) and 3(5) of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, be released on bail on their 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 4 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 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. 8. Office is directed to send a copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Vaishali