1 2026:CGHC:26892 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 988 of 2026 Kumar Ram Thakur S/o Bhakti Ram Aged About 60 Years R/o Village Bhadarasi P.S. And Tahsil Bagbahara, Distt- Mahasamund (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station City Kotwali, District- Raigarh (C.G.) ... Respondent For Applicant : Shri Arun Kumar Shukla, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Shri Soumya Rai, Dy.G.A. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 01/07/2026 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.186/2026 registered at Police Station – Kotwali, District GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2026.07.02 13:32:41 +0530 2 Raigarh (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 3(5), 318(4) of B.N.S. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the accused, namely Sohadra Bai, in connivance with her husband Kumar Ram Thakur and Choice Centre operator Mukesh Kumar Sahu, falsely projected themselves as close relatives of certain Ministers and represented that they possessed influence and connections within the Ministry. On the basis of such false representations, they allegedly induced various job seekers and other persons to part with substantial amounts of money on the assurance of securing appointments to the post of Data Entry Operator in the Ministry. It is alleged that an amount of Rs. 9,92,000/- was received through PhonePe transactions and a further sum of Rs.12,77,100/- was collected in cash, totaling Rs. 22,70,000/-. The present case came to be registered against the applicant and his wife primarily on the basis of the statement of the complainant recorded during investigation. Hence this anticipatory bail application is being filed. Based on the written complaint, Police Station City Kotwali, Raigarh registered FIR No.186/2026 under Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the case. It is argued that there is no material to show that the applicant induced or defrauded the complainants or received any part of the alleged 3 amount, as the money was transferred to the account of a co- accused. It is further submitted that no incriminating article or money has been recovered from the applicant. He would submit that co-accused namely Sohadra Bai who is wife of the applicant has been enlarged on anticipatory bail in MCRCA No.760/2026 on 14.05.2026. He would submit that the applicant is a 60-year-old farmer with no criminal antecedents and he is ready to furnish adequate surety and shall abide by all the directions and conditions which may be imposed by this Court, applicant is a permanent resident of address mentioned in the cause title and there is no chance of his absconding, therefore he prays to enlarge the applicant 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 but do not dispute the fact that co-accused who is wife of the applicant has been granted anticipatory bail by this Court. He would submit that main allegation is against co-accused Mukesh Kumar Sahu and no amount has been received in the account of the applicant. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the materials available on record. 6. Considering the facts & circumstances of the case, submission of learned counsel for the parties, materials available on record, considering the fact that co-accused namely Sohadra Bai who is 4 wife of the applicant has been enlarged on anticipatory bail in MCRCA No.760/2026 on 14.05.2026 and further the fact that main allegation is against co-accused Mukesh Kumar Sahu and no amount has been received in the account of the applicant and also considering the fact that investigation and trial are likely to take some time, without commenting anything on the merits of the case, 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 – Kumar Ram Thakur, 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 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 5 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) The applicant shall not involve himself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice gouri