1 CGHC010191602026 2026:CGHC:27728 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 4790 of 2026 Sohan Lal Chaudhary @ Lalu Bihari S/o Sudarshan Chudhary Aged About 36 Years R/o Jagriti Nagar, Beside Raju Sen House Ward No. 33 Birgaon P.S. Urla District Raipur C.G. ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through P.S. Cyber Cell Civil Line District Raipur C.G. ... Respondent For Applicant : Shri Shyam Kumar, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Ms. Anusha Naik, Dy.G.A. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 06/07/2026 1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No.290/2025 registered at Police Station Cyber Cell, Civil Line, District Raipur (C.G.) for the offence GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2026.07.08 14:43:49 +0530 2 punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111, 3(5) of B.N.S. 2023. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that during the period between 04.01.2024 and 02.03.2025, within the jurisdiction of Range Cyber Police Station, Civil Lines, Raipur (C.G.), the applicant/accused, in connivance with other co-accused persons, allegedly used a total of 41 SIM cards for carrying out cyber fraud activities. It is alleged that the applicant and other co-accused persons, acting in furtherance of their common intention and criminal conspiracy, dishonestly induced various persons through electronic means and thereby obtained an amount of Rs.18,52,654/- by fraudulent and illegal means. On the basis of the said acts, Crime No. 290/2025 was registered by Police Station Civil Lines under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and upon completion of investigation, charge- sheet has been filed before the competent Court. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is submitted that there is no material on record to show his involvement in the alleged offence and that he has no criminal antecedents. The applicant has been implicated solely on the basis of the memorandum statement of the co-accused, which is not supported by any independent evidence. No SIM cards, electronic devices, forged documents, money, or any other incriminating articles have been recovered from the applicant. It is 3 further submitted that there is no documentary or electronic evidence to support the allegation regarding payment or sharing of money in connection with the alleged offence. It is also submitted that similarly placed co-accused has already been granted bail by this Court. He would submit that charge sheet has been filed, the applicant is in jail since 09/03/2026 and conclusion of trial will take some time, therefore, he prays for grant of bail to the applicant. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and would submit that charge sheet has been filed in this case and applicant has one criminal antecedent. She would submit that in compliance of the Courts order dated 16/06/2026 the Investigating Officer has filed his personal affidavit wherein it is alleged that the applicant purchased more than 100 illegally activated SIM cards from the co-accused for use in cyber fraud. It is further alleged that he sold the SIM cards to another co- accused for monetary gain, paying Rs.300 per SIM to the co- accused and retaining Rs.200 per SIM and it is also alleged that the applicant received proceeds of cyber fraud through his UPI account and that analysis of his mobile phone and bank accounts reveals incriminating financial transactions, indicating his involvement as a member of an organized cyber fraud syndicate. She would submit that considering the nature and gravity of allegation, applicant is not entitled for grant of bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the 4 materials available on record. 6. Considering the facts & circumstances of the case, submission of learned counsel for the parties, materials available on record, considering the nature and gravity of the allegations, the material collected during investigation, including the memorandum statements of the co-accused as well as the applicant, the allegation that the applicant procured and supplied more than 100 illegally activated SIM cards for use in cyber fraud, the prima facie evidence of receipt of proceeds of crime through his UPI account, and the incriminating financial transactions reflected in his mobile phone and bank account indicating his involvement in an organized cyber fraud syndicate, therefore this Court does not find it to be a fit case to release the applicant on regular bail. 7. Accordingly, the bail application of applicant Sohan Lal Chaudhary @ Lalu Bihari involved in Crime No.290/2025 registered at Police Station Cyber Cell, Civil Line, District Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111, 3(5) of B.N.S. 2023, is rejected. 8. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information. - Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE gouri