1 CGHC010205222026 2026:CGHC:28626 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR M.Cr.C No.4955 of 2026 Gulab, S/o Munna, Aged About 65 Years, R/o Gram Raghunathnagar, P.S. Raghunathnagar, District Balrampur- Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh. ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, P.S. Raghunathnagar, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh. ... Non-applicant _____________________________________________________ For Applicant :Mr. Navneet Kumar Yadav, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State :Mr. Shailendra Sharma, PL. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 09.07.2026 1. The Applicant has preferred this 1st Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Digitally signed by SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Date: 2026.07.10 13:01:05 +0530 2 connection with Crime No.42/2026 registered at Police Station – Raghunath Nagar, District Balrampur (C.G.), for the offence under Section 326(g) of BNS. 2. Briefly stated, case of the prosecution is that on 28.04.2026, complainant Ramnath lodged a report at Police Station Raghunathnagar stating that on 25.04.2026 at about 12:30 p.m., while the Applicant/accused was setting fire in his field, the fire spread and caused burning of the complainant’s house. It is alleged that due to the said fire, the house was completely burnt to ashes along with household articles, stored grains, wooden materials, clothes, wall structures, one tractor trolley containing Rahar paddy plants, wooden logs/pieces of the old house, wooden door frame, one tractor and one tractor plough. Based on the aforesaid allegations, the present offence has been registered against the present Applicant. Hence this application. 3. Learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that the Applicant is innocent, he has been falsely implicated in the present case and is behind the bars since 05.05.2026. He further submits that there is a delay in lodging the FIR, the Applicant is an aged person suffering from ailments such as blood pressure and diabetes and conclusion of trial is likely to take quite some time, therefore, he may be granted bail. 3 4. On the other hand, learned Counsel for the State opposes the bail application and submits that charge sheet has been filed and the Applicant is having one previous criminal antecedent. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the submissions advanced by learned Counsel for the parties, the nature of allegations, the fact that the FIR has been lodged after a delay, the age of the Applicant, his medical condition and further considering the fact that the Applicant is in jail since 05.05.2026 the likelihood of the trial taking considerable time for its conclusion, without further commenting anything on the merits of the case, this Court is of the considered opinion that the Applicant is entitled to be released on bail. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed. 7. Let Applicant- Gulab involved in Crime No.42/2026 registered at Police Station – Raghunath Nagar, District Balrampur (C.G.), for the offence under Section 326(g) of BNS be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond with two sureties in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he 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 his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his 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 him, 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 him in accordance with law. 8. 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 Priya