1 2026:CGHC:26943 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 3657 of 2026 Yagyadutt Yadav S/o- Moti Yadav, Aged About 29 Years R/o- Khajri, Police Station Ghumka, District- Rajnandgaon (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through The S H O, Police Station Khairagarh, District Khairagarh Chhuikhadan Gandai C.G. ... Non-Applicant For Applicant : Mr. Ujjawal Agrawal, 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, an FIR was registered on 15.11.2025 against the present applicant along with two co- RAHUL DEWANGAN Digitally signed by RAHUL DEWANGAN 2 accused persons alleging that substantial amounts, aggregating to Rs. 8,65,16,376/- (Rupees Eight Crores Sixty-Five Lakhs Sixteen Thousand Three Hundred Seventy-Six only), received from various bank accounts across the country, were credited into three bank accounts maintained with the Bank of Maharashtra, Gol Bazar Branch, Khairagarh, including Bank Account No. 60514132040 belonging to the applicant. It is alleged that the said amount constituted proceeds of cyber fraud in respect of which multiple online complaints had been lodged by different victims. The prosecution has alleged that the applicant, in connivance with the co-accused persons, dishonestly received and retained the fraudulently obtained money, thereby unlawfully enriching himself and committing offences punishable under the relevant provisions of law. During the course of investigation, the applicant was arrested, and he is presently in judicial custody. 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. He further submits that, as per the memorandum statement of the applicant, he had handed over his bank account to one Chunendra Verma in November, 2024 on the latter’s assurance that he would be paid Rs. 30,000/- in return. Pursuant to such assurance, the applicant opened a current account and also handed over the ATM card; however, he received only Rs. 1,000/-. It is contended that the applicant, being an illiterate labourer aged about 29 years, had acted solely for earning some money and had no knowledge that his 3 bank account would be used for any illegal or fraudulent activities. It is further submitted that the prosecution has not annexed the statement of the bank account along with the charge-sheet to substantiate the allegations against the applicant. It is also argued that the actual perpetrators of the alleged cyber fraud are still absconding and have not been apprehended, whereas the present applicant has been made a scapegoat. 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 grave and relate to a well-organized cyber fraud involving huge financial transactions across various States of the country. It is submitted that, pursuant to the order of this Hon’ble Court dated 22.04.2026, the Investigating Officer has filed a personal affidavit placing on record the material collected during the investigation. The affidavit reveals that the applicant’s Current Account No. 60514132040 maintained with Bank of Maharashtra, Gol Bazar Branch, Khairagarh, was identified as a Layer-1 mule account on the basis of information received from the Police Headquarters, Raipur, through the Office of the Superintendent of Police, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai. During investigation, it 4 was found that an aggregate amount of Rs. 8,65,16,376/- was transacted through three mule accounts, including the applicant’s account, by way of online cyber fraud committed against victims from different 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 sustained efforts are being made to apprehend them. The investigation further reveals that eight complaints were registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (1930) by victims from different States including Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. Learned State counsel further submits that the memorandum statement of the applicant clearly discloses that he knowingly opened the bank account in the name of “Kunjal Construction”, linked it with his own KYC documents and mobile number, and thereafter handed over the account kit, ATM card and SIM card to co-accused Chunendra Verma for a consideration of Rs. 30,000/-, though he ultimately received Rs. 1,000/-. It is further pointed out that, within a short span from the date of opening of the account, an amount of Rs. 5,24,19,307/- was credited into the applicant’s account, out of which Rs. 5,23,58,363/- was withdrawn, leaving a balance of only Rs. 7,460/-, which clearly demonstrates that the account was actively used for routing and siphoning off proceeds of cyber fraud. It is also submitted that seven cyber fraud complaints are directly linked to the applicant’s bank account, and considering the gravity of the offence, the magnitude of the fraudulent transactions, the applicant’s active involvement in facilitating the 5 cyber crime by providing his bank account and related banking instruments, 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 collected during the course of investigation, the case diary, and the affidavit filed by the Investigating Officer pursuant to the order of this Court, and the affidavit prima facie reveals that the applicant’s Current Account No. 60514132040 maintained with the Bank of Maharashtra, Gol Bazar Branch, Khairagarh, was identified as a Layer-1 mule account used for routing 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 discloses that an amount of Rs. 5,24,19,307/- was credited into the applicant’s account within a short span of time, out of which Rs. 5,23,58,363/- was withdrawn, leaving only a nominal balance, thereby prima facie indicating active use of the account for illegal financial transactions. The material available on record also reflects that several cyber fraud complaints from victims belonging to different States were traced to the applicant’s bank account and that the applicant, in his memorandum statement, admitted to opening the account, furnishing his own KYC documents, and handing over the account 6 kit, ATM card and SIM card to the co-accused for monetary consideration. Further, two co-accused persons are still absconding and the investigation in that regard is continuing. In view of the serious nature of the allegations, the enormity of the financial transactions involved, and the prima facie material connecting the applicant with the commission of the offence, 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 – Yagyadutt Yadav, 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