1 CGHC010262512026 2026:CGHC:29340 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR M.Cr.C(A) No.1078 of 2026 Shivshankar Soni S/o Late Bharat Soni Aged About 62 Years Occupation- Suspended Assistant Accountant, District Central Cooperative Bank Ltd. (Maryadit) Ambikapur, Distt. Sarguja, R/o Village Sontarai, Police Station And Tehsil- Sitapur, Distt. Sarguja (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Police Station- Sitapur, District- Surguja (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Neeraj Kumar Mehta, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Mr. Sumit Singh, Dy. A.G. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order On Board 13.07.2026 1. The Applicant has preferred this anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Digitally signed by SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Date: 2026.07.14 10:49:04 +0530 2 Sanhita, 2023 for grant of Anticipatory Bail, apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.188/2026, registered at Police Station – Sitapur, District Surguja (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 318, 316(5), 61(2) and 3(5) of BNS. 2. As per the prosecution case, pursuant to an inquiry conducted on the directions of the Collector, Surguja, a written complaint was lodged by the concerned authority alleging that the Applicant/accused, while working as Assistant Accountant in District Cooperative Central Bank, Branch Petla, along with other accused persons, fraudulently sanctioned loans in the names of 127 farmers by forging their signatures, thereby committing an alleged fraud and misappropriation of approximately Rs.1,92,82,096/-. On the basis of the said complaint, offences mentioned above, were registered against the Applicant and other accused persons. Hence, this application. 3. Learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that the Applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that though the bail application of co-accused has been rejected by this Court, the present case stands on a different footing as the amount in question has 3 already been deposited. It is contended that the co-accused was denied bail primarily on account of the seriousness of allegations and the stage of investigation, whereas the present Applicant deserves consideration in view of the subsequent developments and the facts of his individual case and prays for grant of anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the application and submits that though there are no previous criminal antecedents against the present Applicant, the bail application of the co-accused has already been rejected by this Court considering the nature of allegations and the material available on record. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 6. Considering the submissions advanced by learned Counsel for the parties, the nature of allegations, the fact that the Applicant is alleged to have been involved in sanctioning fraudulent loans in the names of 127 farmers causing an alleged loss of Rs.1,92,82,096/- to the Bank and the fact that the bail application of co-accused has already been rejected by this Court, this Court is not inclined to grant the benefit of anticipatory bail to the Applicant. 4 7. Accordingly, the Anticipatory Bail application of the Applicant – Shivshankar Soni, filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 in connection with Crime No.188/2026, registered at Police Station – Sitapur, District Surguja (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 318, 316(5), 61(2) and 3(5) of BNS , is hereby rejected. 8. Office is directed to provide a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Priya