1 2026:CGHC:26424 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 5054 of 2026 1 - Ashish Pandey S/o- Rameshchandra Pandey, Aged About 28 Years R/o- Village- Kesari, P.S. Raghunathnagar, District- Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.) ... Applicant(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through, Police Chouki- Balangi, P.S.- Raghunathnagar, District- Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Navneet Kumar Yadav, Advocate For Respondent/State : Mr.Siddanth Tiwari, PL (Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) Order on Board 29/06/2026 The present is the first application for grant of regular bail filed by the applicant, who has been in judicial custody since 18.05.2026 in connection with Crime No. 30/2024 registered at Police Station SUGUNA DUBEY Digitally signed by SUGUNA DUBEY Date: 2026.06.30 10:44:09 +0530 2 Raghunath Nagar, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj, for the offences punishable under Section 112(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 3(2) of the Chhattisgarh Gambling Prohibition Act, 2022. 2. As per the prosecution case, on 18.05.2026, acting upon a secret information, the police conducted a raid at Karri Jungle, where the present applicant along with 9–10 other persons was allegedly found indulging in card gambling. The applicant was apprehended on the spot along with co-accused Gulab Chand Jaiswal, whereas the remaining accused persons allegedly fled from the place of occurrence. Consequently, the aforesaid crime was registered. During the search, a sum of Rs.1,19,500/- was allegedly seized from the possession of the applicant. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the applicant submits that the applicant had merely gone to the jungle for a picnic and has been falsely implicated on mere suspicion. It is contended that the applicant was only playing cards for recreation and was not engaged in any gambling activity. It is further submitted that although the applicant has one criminal antecedent, the same by itself cannot be a ground to deny the benefit of bail. It is submitted that the alleged offences are triable by the Judicial Magistrate First Class and the applicant is in custody since 18.05.2026. It is further submitted that the co-accused, namely Gulab Chand Jaiswal, has already been enlarged on regular bail by the trial Court and owing to the non-apprehension of the remaining accused persons, the charge-sheet has not yet been filed and the completion of 3 investigation is likely to take some time, the applicant is the sole breadwinner of his family and, therefore, he may be enlarged on bail. 4. Per contra, learned State counsel opposes the prayer for bail and submits that the applicant has a criminal antecedent and a cash amount of Rs.1,19,500/- has been recovered from his possession, which prima facie connects him with the alleged offence. It is, therefore, prayed that the application be rejected. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties, perused the case diary and considered the rival submissions. 6. Having regard to the nature and gravity of the allegations, the material available in the case diary, the period of incarceration undergone by the applicant since 18.05.2026, the fact that the offences are triable by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, and further considering that the co-accused Gulab Chand Jaiswal has already been granted regular bail by the trial Court, this Court is of the opinion that the applicant is entitled to be enlarged on bail. Accordingly, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the present bail application deserves to be and is hereby allowed. 7. It is directed that the applicant shall be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs. 50,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court, on following conditions:- (i) He 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. (ii) He shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (iii) He shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the concerned trial Court till disposal of the trial. Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) Judge