1 CGHC010225142026 2026:CGHC:27575 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 906 of 2026 1 - Rohit Panjwani S/o. Narayan Das Panjwani Aged About 36 Years R/o Ward No. 13 Jhulelal Ward, Chakarbhatha Camp, Bodri, Bilaspur P.S. - Chakarbhatha District Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Petitioner(s) Versus 1 - State of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Civil Line, District Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) For Applicant : Shri Manoj Paranjpe, Sr. Advocate along with Shri Rishabh Gupta, Advocate. For State : Shri Ghanshyam Kashyap, Dy. Govt. Advocate and Ms. Isha Jajodiya, Panel Lawyer. Hon’ble Shri Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, J Order on Board 03.07.2026 1. The applicant has filed this application under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, for grant of anticipatory bail as he is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.448 of 2026 registered at Police Station Civil Lines, Bilaspur, for the offence punishable under Section 7(2) of The Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Section 112 of BNS, 2023. INDRAJEET SAHU Digitally signed by INDRAJEET SAHU Date: 2026.07.06 17:35:49 +0530 2 2. The case of prosecution is that, on 04.04.2026 Civil Lines Police Bilaspur, on secret information being received, arrested two accused persons Sourabh Pawar and Kamal Panjwani as they were engaged in playing online gambling. Their mobile phones were seized through which they were engaged in playing online gambling by whatsapp chatting. Whatsapp screen shot, cash of Rs.1,48,500/- and their activa vehicle was seized. On interrogation, they disclosed the name of Raj Chetani, mobile No.9755171819 and Rohit Panjwani, mobile No. 9200988888 and also disclosed that all of them were engaged in playing online gambling in Cricket Match and shared the profit of online gambling with them. They also disclosed playing online gambling in 20- 20 Cricket Match, World Cup and One Day Cricket Match and any other series Cricket Tournament. Various whatsapp chatting, screen shots have been recovered in which the name of present applicant is also disclosed and therefore the present applicant is apprehending his arrest in the offence. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the applicant would submit that there is no material available in the case which directly connects the present applicant with the offence in question. No incriminating materials have been extracted from the other co-accused persons connecting him in the offence in question. There is no involvement of applicant in any of the cricket betting app or online gambling. Since the name of applicant has been in other two offences registered at Police Station, Civil Lines, Bilaspur, only on apprehension the police has made the present applicant accused in the present case also. There is no money transaction with the present applicant and name of applicant has not 3 been disclosed in that whatsapp chatting. There is no Cyber expert report of the mobile phone of the co-accused in which the present applicant’s involvement is disclosed. 4. It is further submitted that apprehending his arrest in Crime No.34 of 2026, registered at Police Station, Civil Lines, Bilaspur, for the offence under Section 7(2) of Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Section 112 of BNS, 2023, though his anticipatory bail application was rejected vide order dated 01.05.2026 passed in MCrCA No.441 of 2026, but the Supreme Court in SLP(Cr.)No.9841 of 2026 has granted him interim protection vide order dated 25.05.2026. He would also submit that though Cyber report of mobile phones of other accused persons discloses the name of Rohit, but said Rohit Panjwani is another person whose name is Rohit Panjwani S/o Gyan Panjwani R/o Sindhi Colony, whereas the present applicant is Rohit Panjwani S/o Narayan Das Panjwani R/o Chakatbhata Camp, Bilaspur. Therefore, merely on exhibition of name of Rohit, the present applicant cannot be arrested as he has no involvement with the alleged offence. Thus, looking to the nature of evidence available in the case, the applicant may be granted anticipatory bail. 5. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State vehemently opposes the submissions made by the counsel for the applicant and would submit that it is an online gambling in which the accused persons made their syndicate and conducted their activities through online mode. Their activity has been from the report of Cyber experts as transaction have been made through online mode. Since the present applicant is out of reach of police persons, his mobile phone could not be 4 seized/examined to extract relevant data from it. From the memorandum statement of accused Ayush Agrawal, the name of co- accused Prakash Panjwani was disclosed and when the anticipatory bail application of Prakash Panjwani was considered, a report from Cyber Cell was called in which the name of Rohit Panjwani is reflected in Cyber report. There are five criminal antecedents of similar nature against the present applicant. It is a huge network of online gambling which the accused persons are running through their mobile phones in online mode. Therefore, the applicant is not entitled for anticipatory bail. 6. I have heard the counsel for the parties and perused the material annexed with the bail application as well as case diary. 7. Considering the submissions made by the counsel for the parties, con- sidering the nature of allegations and material collected during investi- gation; considering screen shot recovered from the mobile phone of co-accused persons and the Cyber report in which the name of Rohit is reflected, his prima facie involvement appears in the case. Further, the applicant is having five criminal antecedents of similar nature. Therefore, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant is rejected. No order asto costs. Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) Judge inder