1 2026:CGHC:27213 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 5834 of 2026 Puni Bai Satnami W/o Late Tilak Satnami Aged About 35 Years R/o Bambe Awash Devnagar, Black - C House No. 18, P.S. Koni District- Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through P.S. Koni District- Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Pawan Shrivastava, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Ms. Monika Thakur, Panel Lawyer. Hon’ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 02.07.2026 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. 229/2026 registered at Police Station : Koni, District – Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 331(4) and 305(a) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. As per the prosecution story, on 09.05.2026, the complainant lodged a complaint stating that on 08.05.2026, her son, Vikas Baghel, had gone to Janjgir to bring his wife home. On that night, after having dinner, the complainant went to sleep, expecting that her son and daughter-in-law would return home. Before going to bed, she closed the door. At about ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Digitally signed by ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Date: 2026.07.03 11:05:59 +0530 2 12:30 A.M., after counting Rs. 40,000/- in cash, she kept the amount in a bag and went to sleep. After some time, upon hearing the sound of the door, she woke up and allegedly saw her neighbour, Puni Bai, running away from her house. She chased her, but Puni Bai managed to escape. Thereafter, when the complainant checked the bag in which the cash had been kept, she found that Rs. 40,000/- was missing. It is alleged that during the night, Puni Bai had entered her house and committed theft of Rs. 40,000/- in cash from the bag. In the morning at about 11:00 A.M., when her son and daughter-in-law returned home, the complainant informed them about the incident and thereafter lodged the aforesaid complaint at the Police Station. On the basis of the said complaint, the police registered an FIR for the offences punishable under Sections 331(4) and 305(a) of the B.N.S. and commenced the investigation. During the course of the investigation, the police arrested the present applicant on 10.05.2026 and allegedly seized Rs. 32,000/- in cash from her possession. After completion of the investigation, the charge-sheet has been filed for the offences punishable under Sections 331(4) and 305(a) of the B.N.S., and the applicant is presently in judicial custody. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the present applicant is an innocent person and has been falsely implicated in the present case. He submits that the amount seized from the applicant is her own money. Except for the said cash amount, nothing incriminating has been recovered from the exclusive possession of the applicant. The applicant has been falsely implicated in the present case merely because she was allegedly seen near the house of the complainant on the date of the incident. He also submits that all the alleged offences are triable by the Magistrate. Even if the entire prosecution case is accepted at its face value, no offence, as alleged, is made out against the applicant. The 3 applicant is a widow aged about 35 years and has minor children who are entirely dependent upon her, as she is the sole earning member of the family. He also submits that the present applicant has no criminal antecedents and she is in jail since 10.05.2026, conclusion of the trial may take some time, therefore, he prays for grant of regular bail to the applicant. 4. On the other hand learned State counsel opposes the bail application of the present applicant and submits that the charge-sheet has already been submitted before the competent Court in the present case. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, as the present applicant being a lady has no criminal antecedents, further, the charge- sheet has been submitted before the competent Court in the present case and she is in jail since 10.05.2026, the trial is likely to take sometime for its conclusion, therefore, I am of the opinion that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case. 7. Let applicant, Puni Bai Satnami, involved in Crime No. 229/2026 registered at Police Station : Koni, District – Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 331(4) and 305(a) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, be released on bail on her furnishing a personal bond with two sureties in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that she shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the 4 trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law. (ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through her counsel. In case of her absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against her under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure her presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against her, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 351 of BNSS. If in the opinion of the trial court absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against her in accordance with law. 8. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned forthwith for necessary information and compliance. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Abhishek