1 2026:CGHC:26381 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 943 of 2026 Sonu Relwani S/o Lal Chand Relwani Aged About 35 Years (Aadhar No. 3727 4921 2197) Resident Of Shiva Villa, Amlidih, Raipur, District- Raipur (C.G.) ... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through The District Magistrate- Raipur, District- Raipur (C.G.)(Concerned Police Station- Rakhi) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Hari Agrawal, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Ms. Nupur Dwivedi, P.L. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 29.06.2026 1. This anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No. 165/2025 registered at Police Station – Rakhi, District – Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 324(4), 221, 132, 296, 351(2), 3(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 3(2) of Prevention of Damage of Public Property Act. 2. Prosecution case in brief is that the incident originated from a written complaint dated 09.10.2025 lodged by Sanjay Tiwari, Additional Digitally signed by JYOTI JHA Date: 2026.06.30 17:54:53 +0530 2 Director, Oice of the Directorate of Public Relations, Indrawati Bhavan, Raipur. In his report, the complainant alleged that on 09.10.2025 at about 12:30 PM, while he was sitting in his office and conversing with a senior journalist of Channel India, namely Pawan Dubey, four unknown persons suddenly entered his office premises. Since the office space was limited, Pawan Dubey left the room. Thereafter, one of the intruders, wearing a black shirt and identifying himself as “Toushif” or “Tokir,” claiming to be a journalist, pointed towards another person and stated that he had been manhandled the previous day. When the complainant asked them to sit and explain the matter, the said person responded that they had not come to sit and began quarrelling with him. On being asked to leave the office, the four individuals allegedly refused and, upon the complainant’s attempt to remove them, they caught hold of him, forcing the complainant to free himself and run outside to save his life. The altercation allegedly continued outside the office for about 10–15 minutes. It is further alleged that thereafter, the Manoj Pandey, who is the Editor of Buland Chhattisgarh, entered the office and began conversing about the incident. Based on this report, the police registered a case against four unknown persons, however, apprehending arrest in the said crime, the present applicant preferred an application for anticipatory bail before the trial Court, which was rejected vide order dated 06.06.2026. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He would submit that editor of the news paper namely Brijbhaal @ Manoj Pandey has already been enlarged on anticipatory bail by this Court in MCRCA No.1687/2025 on 04/11/2025 and Abhay Shaha has also been 3 enlarged on anticipatory bail by this Court in MCRCA No. 1851/2025 whereas the applicant is working as news correspondent in the office of Buland Chhattisgarh, therefore, he submits that the present applicant is also entitled to be released on anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel, appearing for the non - applicant/State, opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the facts & circumstances of the case, submission of learned counsel for the parties, considering the fact that editor of the news paper namely Brijbhaal @ Manoj Pandey has already been enlarged on anticipatory bail by this Court in MCRCA No.1687/2025 on 04/11/2025 and Abhay Shaha has also been enlarged on anticipatory bail by this Court in MCRCA No. 1851/2025 whereas the applicant is working as news correspondent in the office of Buland Chhattisgarh and also considering the fact that investigation and trial are likely to take some time, therefore, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the present applicant. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant Sonu Relwani on executing a personal bond and one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such fact to the Court. (b) The applicant shall not act in any manner which will be 4 prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) The applicant 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 their 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) The applicant shall not involve himself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Jyoti