1 2026:CGHC:26945 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 3772 of 2026 Narad Rajak S/o Jeetu Rajak Aged About 28 Years R/o Village Nawagaonkala, Police Station Khairagarh, District Khairagarh- Chhuikhadan-Gandai (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police of Police Station Khairagarh, District Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai (C.G.) ... Non-Applicant For Applicant : Mr. Shikhar Sharma, Advocate For Non-Applicant/State : Mr. Saumya Rai, Deputy Govt. Advocate Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 01.07.2026 1. This is the First bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 519/2025 registered at Police Station– Khairagarh, District- Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai, (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 318(4), and 61(2)(a) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and under Section 66 of the I.T. Act. 2. As per the prosecution case, in brief, on the basis of information received on 14.11.2025 from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Coordination Portal (NCRP) operated by the Ministry of Home RAHUL DEWANGAN Digitally signed by RAHUL DEWANGAN 2 Affairs, Government of India, through the Superintendent of Police, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai, three bank accounts maintained with the Bank of Maharashtra, Gol Bazar Branch, Khairagarh, including the applicant’s Account No. 60514132040, were identified as Layer-1 mule accounts allegedly used for receiving and routing proceeds of cyber fraud. During the preliminary inquiry, it was revealed that an aggregate amount of Rs. 8,65,16,376/- (Rupees Eight Crores Sixty-Five Lakhs Sixteen Thousand Three Hundred Seventy-Six only) had been credited and transacted through the said accounts by defrauding victims from different States across the country, pursuant to which an FIR was registered against the account holders, including the present applicant. It is further alleged that the principal accused persons, namely Rahul Sahu and Yuvraj Gandharva, are still absconding. During the course of investigation, the present applicant was arrested. Hence, the present bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is contended that the applicant has neither committed nor participated in the commission of any offence as alleged and that the material collected during the course of investigation does not prima facie disclose his involvement in the alleged offences. It is further submitted that the applicant has been arrayed as an accused merely on the basis of suspicion and his memorandum statement, without there being any independent incriminating material connecting him with the alleged cyber fraud. He further submits that 3 there is no allegation that the applicant himself committed any online fraud or cheated any person, and that the prosecution has only alleged that certain amounts were credited into his bank account. It is argued that the actual acts of cheating and cyber fraud, if any, were committed by other persons, while the applicant has been falsely implicated without any evidence to establish his active participation or criminal intent. It is also submitted that the charge-sheet has been submitted before the competent Court, he has no previous criminal antecedents, and the present applicant is in jail since 15.11.2025 and conclusion of the trial may take some time, therefore, he prays for grant of regular bail to the present applicant. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has been submitted before the competent Court. He further submits that the allegations against the applicant are serious in nature and pertain to an organized cyber fraud involving huge financial transactions affecting victims across different States of the country. It is submitted that, pursuant to the order of this Hon’ble Court dated 24.04.2026, the Investigating Officer has filed a detailed personal affidavit placing on record the evidence collected during investigation. The affidavit reveals that, on the basis of information received from the Police Headquarters, Raipur regarding Layer-1 mule accounts, the applicant’s Current Account No. 60527815497 maintained with the Bank of Maharashtra, Gol Bazar Branch, Khairagarh, in the name of “Rajak Auto Parts”, along with two other accounts, was identified as 4 being used for illegal transactions. During investigation, it was found that an aggregate amount of Rs. 8,65,16,376/- had been credited and transacted through the said three mule accounts by committing cyber fraud against victims from various States of the country. It is further submitted that six accused persons are involved in the offence, out of whom two are still absconding and continuous efforts are being made to apprehend them. The investigation also reveals that multiple cyber fraud complaints were registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (1930), including complaints from Chhattisgarh and Gujarat, which were traced to the accounts involved in the present crime. Learned State counsel further submits that the applicant, in his memorandum statement, admitted that at the instance of co-accused Bhojram Verma, he opened the aforesaid bank account on 06.03.2025 using his own Aadhaar Card, PAN Card and mobile number, handed over the account kit, ATM card and SIM card to the co-accused for use in online gaming and cyber fraud in consideration of Rs. 30,000/-, out of which he received Rs. 20,000/-. It is further pointed out that, within a short period from the opening of the account, an amount of Rs. 1,59,35,194/- was credited into the applicant’s account, out of which Rs. 1,57,25,460/- was withdrawn, leaving a balance of Rs. 2,09,734/-, clearly indicating that the account was actively used for routing proceeds of cyber fraud. It is also submitted that seven cyber complaints are directly linked to the applicant’s bank account and that the Layer-1 mule account was used for fraudulent transactions. In view of the gravity of the offence, the magnitude of the transactions, the applicant’s conscious role in providing his 5 bank account and banking instruments for illegal activities, and the fact that investigation against the absconding co-accused is still in progress, the applicant is not entitled to be released on bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the allegations, the material available in the case diary, the charge-sheet and the personal affidavit filed by the Investigating Officer pursuant to the order of this Court, and the affidavit prima facie discloses that the applicant’s Current Account No. 60527815497 maintained with the Bank of Maharashtra, Gol Bazar Branch, Khairagarh, in the name of “Rajak Auto Parts”, was identified as a Layer-1 mule account used for receiving and routing the proceeds of cyber fraud, and that an aggregate amount of Rs. 8,65,16,376/- was transacted through three such mule accounts. The investigation further reveals that, within a short span of time from the opening of the applicant’s account, an amount of Rs. 1,59,35,194/- was credited therein, out of which Rs. 1,57,25,460/- was withdrawn, leaving only Rs. 2,09,734/- as the balance, which prima facie indicates active use of the account for illegal financial transactions. The material collected during investigation further shows that several cyber fraud complaints lodged by victims from different States were traced to the accounts involved in the present crime, and that the applicant, in his memorandum statement, admitted to opening the bank account by using his own KYC documents and mobile number and thereafter handing over the 6 account kit, ATM card and SIM card to the co-accused for monetary consideration. It is also evident from the record that six accused persons are involved in the offence, out of whom two are still absconding, and the investigation in respect of the remaining accused is continuing. Looking to the serious nature of the allegations, the enormity of the financial transactions involved, the prima facie material indicating the applicant’s conscious involvement in facilitating the commission of cyber fraud by providing his bank account and banking instruments, and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this Court is of the opinion that it is not a fit case to enlarge the applicant on regular bail. 7. Accordingly, the bail application of the applicant – Narad Rajak, involved in Crime No. 519/2025 registered at Police Station– Khairagarh, District- Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai, (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 318(4), and 61(2)(a) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and under Section 66 of the I.T. Act, is rejected. 8. Needless to say that the trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed and conclude the trial expeditiously. 9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Rahul Dewangan