1 CGHC010249962026 2026:CGHC:28895 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 6137 of 2026 1 - Sahngo Kumar Kawasi S/o Mahru Ram Kawasi Aged About 27 Years R/o Bagmundi Panera Police Station Gidam District Bastar (C.G.) 2 - Pradeep Kumar Veko S/o Lachhuram Aged About 25 Years R/o Bagmundi Panera Police Station Gidam District Bastar (C.G.) ... Applicant(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Forest Circle Bade Dongar District - Kondagaon (C.G.) ... Non-Applicant with MCRC No. 6015 of 2026 1 - Hunga Karma S/o Bodma Aged About 30 Years R/o Pondum Police Station And District Dantewada Chhattisgarh 2 - Baman Ram Mandavi S/o Budhram Mandavi Aged About 22 Years R/o Pondum Police Station And District Dantewada Chhattisgarh ... Applicant(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Forest Circle Bade Dongar District Kondagaon Chhattisgarh ... Non-Applicant Digitally signed by JYOTI JHA Date: 2026.07.10 18:04:20 +0530 2 MCRC No. 5525 of 2026 1 - Shankar Lal Netam S/o Saradu Ram Netam Aged About 25 Years R/o Banachpai, Police Station Benoor, District Kondagaon C.G. ... Applicant(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Forest Circle Bade Dongar, District Kondagaon C.G. ... Non-Applicant For Applicant : Mr. Pravin Kumar Tulsyan, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Mr. Smriti Shrivastava, P.L. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 10.07.2026 1. Since all the the bail applications are arising out of same incident registered and POR Nubmer, they are being heard and decided by this common order. 2. This is the First bail applications filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicants who have been arrested in connection with POR No. 19416/2013 registered at Police Station : Forest Circle Bade Dongar, Kondagaon (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Section 09, 39(1)(D), 03(a)(b)(c), 48-A, 50,51,52R/w Section 02(16)(20) and 40(1)(2) of Wildlife Protection Act. 3. The prosecution case, in brief, is that on the basis of a credible secret information regarding the transportation and sale of a 3 leopard skin, the Forest Department laid a trap by deputing one of its officials as a decoy purchaser. Pursuant to the deal, two accused persons arrived near Village Bailgaon on the Baderdongar Road on a motorcycle bearing registration No. CG- 04-DK-0533 carrying a leopard skin concealed in a sack. They were followed by seven other associates traveling in an Eeco vehicle bearing registration No. CG-17-KZ-2755. The Forest Department officials apprehended all the accused persons on the spot and seized one leopard skin measuring 195 cm in length and 45 cm in width, the Eeco vehicle, the motorcycle and one country- made firearm (Bharmar gun). During investigation, the present applicants were found to have actively assisted in the commission of the offence and were arrested on 19.03.2026 for offences punishable under Sections 9, 39(1)(d), 3(a), (b), (c), 48A, 50, 51 and 52 read with Sections 2(16), 2(20), 40(1) and 40(2) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2022). The Forest Range Officer, Baderdongar has specifically alleged that the applicants were members of an organized syndicate engaged in poaching and trafficking of endangered wildlife species, particularly a leopard included in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for monetary gain, thereby causing serious adverse impact on wildlife conservation, biodiversity and the environment. 4. Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. 4 The leopard skin was allegedly recovered from the said vehicle in which other persons were travelling as passengers, and no conscious or exclusive possession of the contraband can be attributed to the applicants. It is further submitted that the applicants have been in judicial custody since 19.03.2026, have no criminal antecedents, and are the sole breadwinners of their respective families. It is argued that the trial is likely to take considerable time to conclude and, therefore, their further incarceration is unwarranted. Therefore, it is prayed that the applicants be enlarged on bail. 5. Learned State counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the applicants are involved in a serious offence relating to illegal trafficking of a Schedule-I wild animal. There is sufficient material connecting the applicants with the crime and, considering the gravity of the offence, the bail application deserves to be rejected. 6. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 7. Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, the material available on record, the nature of the allegations, the role attributed to the applicants and without expressing any final opinion on the merits of the prosecution case, this Court is of the considered view that the applicants are entitled to be enlarged on bail. 5 8. Let applicants, Sahngo Kumar Kawasi, Pradeep Kumar Veko, Hunga Karma, Baman Ram Mandavi and Shankar Lal Netam, involved in POR No. 19416/2013 registered at Police Station : Forest Circle Bade Dongar, Kondagaon (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Section 09, 39(1)(D), 03(a)(b)(c), 48-A, 50,51,52R/w Section 02(16)(20) and 40(1)(2) of Wildlife Protection Act, be released on bail on their furnishing a personal bond with two sureties each in the like amount 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 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 6 court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against him in accordance with law. 9. 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 Jyoti