1 CGHC010241782026 2026:CGHC:27742 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 1026 of 2026 Durganth Dewangan S/ Lachchhanram Dewangan Aged About 42 Years R/o Mahatma Gandhi Ward Kondagaon District- Kondagaon (C.G.) (Age Wrongly Mention In Order Sheet) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Farasgaon District- Kondagaon (C.G.) ... Respondent For Applicant : Mr. Vikas Patel, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Mr. Sumit Singh, Dy. A.G. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 06.07.2026 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.62/2026 registered at Police Station – Farasgaon Kondagaon, District Kondagaon (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Sections 308(2), 319(2), 3(5) and Section 319(3)(4)(wrongly mentioned in the order sheet) of the BNS. VAIBHAV SINGH Digitally signed by VAIBHAV SINGH Date: 2026.07.06 17:53:00 +0530 2 2. The case of the prosecution, on 25.03.2026, while proceeding towards Raipur in Truck No. CG 07 CK 9367 loaded with Semar wood from Geedam, and parked the vehicle near a petrol pump at Borgaon on NH-30 and was resting between 1:00A.M. and 1:30 A.M. At that time, Sunil Yadav and Durganath Devangan arrived in Car No. CG 27 A Forest 1615, introducing themselves as a journalist and a official respectively. They demanded the vehicle and wood-related documents Department and threatened to have the vehicle seized unless 50,000/- was paid by Devraj @ Vijay Kumar Gupta. Upon my refusal, they forcibly took 1,350/- from possession on the pretext of petrol expenses, took away the vehicle documents, and continued pressurizing me to arrange and pay Rs.50,000/-. Accordingly, the crime was registered investigation was initiated. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the present case and has not committed any of the alleged offences. It is contended that the applicant is a journalist who, in the course of his professional duties, received information regarding the illegal transportation of timber from the Bastar Forest Range and duly informed the Forest Department over the telephone, pursuant to which the concerned authorities seized the truck and timber. It is submitted that, due to the said action and the applicant's continuous reporting through newspapers against the illegal transportation of timber, the complainant, with an ulterior motive and out of vengeance, lodged the present false FIR against the applicant. Learned counsel further submits that the prosecution case rests solely on the allegations of the complainant and is not supported by any independent witness. It is also argued that no physical injury was caused to the complainant 3 and that the allegations relate only to an alleged demand for money and seizure of documents, which are matters requiring appreciation of evidence during trial. It is further submitted that, although the alleged incident is stated to have occurred on a public road near a petrol pump on National Highway-30, no independent witness has been cited by the prosecution. It is also contended that the applicant's arrest would cause irreparable prejudice to his reputation, liberty, and livelihood protected under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The applicant undertakes to cooperate with the investigation, shall not tamper with the evidence or influence the witnesses, and is ready to abide by any condition that may be imposed by this Court. On these grounds, it is prayed that the applicant be granted the benefit of anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposed the anticipatory bail application of the applicant. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the submissions advanced by learned counsel for the parties, the nature of the dispute, and the material available on record, and in view of the fact that the similarly situated co-accused, namely Sunil Yadav, has already been granted anticipatory bail by this Hon’ble High Court in MCRCA No. 975 of 2026 vide order dated 30.06.2026, this Court finds that the present applicant is entitled to the benefit of parity. Therefore, without making any further comment on the merits of the case, this Court deems it appropriate to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant. 4 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant – Durganth Dewangan, on executing a personal bond and one local surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) he 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) he shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) he 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 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) he shall not involve himself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE vaibhav