1 2026:CGHC:24409 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 846 of 2026 Neha Chauhan D/o Dilip Chauhan Aged About 28 Years R/o Khetrajpur P.S. - Khetrajpur Tehsil And District - Sambalpur ( Orrisa) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer City Kotwali District - Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent For Applicant : Mr. Sanjay Agrawal, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Mr. Soumya Rai, Dy. G.A. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 17.06.2026 1. This first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.187/2026 registered at Police Station – City Kotwali District - Raigarh (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Sections 316(5), 336(3), 338, 340(2) & 60 of the BNS,2023. VAIBHAV SINGH Digitally signed by VAIBHAV SINGH Date: 2026.06.18 12:00:24 +0530 2 2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that he complainant namely Kamal Kishore Shah who is one of the owners of Shri Ram Transport Company, lodged an FIR on 26/02/2026 alleging that on 05/04/2026financial fraud has been committed by two of his employees namely Prakash Mishra and Deepak Sharma. The complainant alleges that on 26/02/2026, he discovered duplicate bill vouchers bearing identical numbers had been prepared for different vehicles to authorize fraudulent payments. These duplicate voucher bills were allegedly drawn in the names of six individuals, including the present Applicant resulting in a wrongful total loss of Rs.32,00,000/- to the company. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. No offence, as alleged, is made out against her. One of the co-accused has already been granted anticipatory bail by this Hon’ble Court in MCRCA No. 660/2026 vide order dated 04.05.2026. The applicant has been arrayed as an accused without any preliminary inquiry, despite having neither the authority nor the expertise to issue the vouchers in question. The main allegations are against co-accused Deepak Sharma and Prakash Mishra, and the applicant has no role in the alleged incident. In fact, the amount received in the applicant’s bank account pertains to repayment of a personal loan of Rs. 2,50,000/- advanced by her to co-accused Deepak Sharma. The applicant was merely an employee working under the complainant and performed her duties strictly under his instructions. The mandatory guidelines laid down in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar were not followed, and no notice under Section 67 of the BNSS, 2023 was served upon her. The dispute, if any, arises out of financial transactions and does not disclose the commission of any 3 criminal offence. The applicant is a lady, a permanent resident of the address mentioned in the cause title, and undertakes to abide by all conditions that may be imposed by this Hon’ble Court while granting anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposed the anticipatory bail application of the applicant. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the submissions advanced by learned counsel for the parties, the nature of the allegations, and the material available on record, and further taking into consideration that a similarly situated co-accused, namely Yasmin Banjara, has already been granted anticipatory bail by this Court in MCRCA No. 660 of 2026 vide order dated 04.05.2026, this Court is of the view that the present applicant is entitled to the benefit of parity. Accordingly, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this Court deems it appropriate to extend the benefit of anticipatory bail to the applicant. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant – Neha Chauhan, on executing a personal bond and one local surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) She shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to 4 dissuade him from disclosing such fact to the Court. (b) She shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) She shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial. (d) the applicant and the surety shall submit a copy of his adhaar card along with a coloured postcard full size photo having printed the adhaar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court. (e) She shall not involve herself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/ (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE vaibhav