1 2026:CGHC:24469 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 887 of 2026 Pappu Kumar Yadav S/o - Vijay Yadav Aged About 28 Years R/o - Rajbhar, Post - Dhodwa, P. S. - Itkhori, District Chatra (Jharkhand) (As Per Correct Details) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station - Darima, District - Surguja (C.G.) ... Non-Applicant For Applicant : Mr. Sachin Nidhi, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Ms. Ritika Verma, Panel Lawyer. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order On Board 17.06.2026 1. The applicant has preferred this anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of Anticipatory Bail, apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No. 21/2026, registered at Police Station – Darima, District- Surguja (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 4, 6, 10 of Chhattisgarh Agriculture Cattle Preservation Act and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act. 2. As per the prosecution case, on 14.01.2026, the complainant lodged a written report at the concerned Police Station alleging that a vehicle bearing Registration No. JH-13-J-6737 had overturned near the Shiv Mandir situated in Village Khajuri. It was further alleged that the PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2026.06.19 16:59:52 +0530 2 driver/accused had fled from the spot after the incident. Upon inspection, the said vehicle was found to be carrying a total of nine cattle, which were suspected to be transported to the State of Jharkhand for the purpose of slaughter. On the basis of the aforesaid allegations, an FIR was registered at Police Station Darima, District - Surguja (Chhattisgarh), bearing Crime No. 21/2026, for offences punishable under Sections 4, 6 and 10 of the Chhattisgarh Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act, as well as Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. He further submits that the applicant had already executed a sale agreement in respect of the alleged vehicle bearing Registration No. JH-13J-6767 in favour of Bittu Kumar on 15.11.2023. It is submitted that, as per the terms of the said agreement, any incident, mishap, or liability arising in connection with the aforesaid vehicle after the date of execution of the agreement would be the sole responsibility of Bittu Kumar. A copy of the sale agreement relating to the said vehicle has been filed as Annexure A/3. Learned counsel further submits that Bittu Kumar himself has admitted that he may be arrested by the police in connection with the aforesaid crime, however, despite such admission, no effective or reasoned order has been passed on the application for surrender filed by him. It is further submitted that the applicant has no criminal antecedents. On these grounds, learned counsel prays for grant of anticipatory bail to the applicant. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposed the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail and submitted that as per the case diary, it reveals that the complainant, reported that, a pickup vehicle bearing Registration No. JH-13-J-6737, which was carrying cattle in a cruel manner. The vehicle 3 was carrying a total of nine cattle, out of which one animal died as a result of the incident. The owner of the vehicle, the driver, and his associate fled from the spot. Hence, the present anticipatory bail application of the applicant is liable to be rejected. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, allegations levelled against the applicant, and from the perusal of the records available, it transpires that the vehicle bearing Registration No. JH-13-J-6737 was being used for transportation of cattle in a cruel manner and was carrying nine cattle, out of which one animal died as a consequence of the incident, further considering the fact that the owner of the vehicle, the driver, and his associate fled from the spot, considering the seriousness of the allegations, this Court is of the view that the present application for anticipatory bail is liable to be rejected. 7. 7. Accordingly, the Anticipatory Bail application of the applicant – Pappu Kumar Yadav, filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 in connection with Crime No. 21/2026, registered at Police Station – Darima, District- Surguja (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 4, 6, 10 of Chhattisgarh Agriculture Cattle Preservation Act and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, is rejected. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Preeti