1 CGHC010190162026 2026:CGHC:28995 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 4922 of 2026 Manindar Singh S/o Shri Niranjan Singh Aged About 54 Years R/o Mautharpura Shikarpur, Police Station Shikarpur, District Bulandshahar (U.P.) ... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer Police Station- Civil Line, District- Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Shashank Upadhyay, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Mr. Nitansh Jaiswal, Dy. G.A. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 10.07.2026 1. This is the First bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No.883/2025 registered at Police Station- Civil Line, District- Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4), 309(5), 3(5) of the BNS and 66-D of the I.T. Act, 2000. KUNAL DEWANGAN Digitally signed by KUNAL DEWANGAN 2 2. Prosecution story in brief is that the complainant, namely Somen Kumar Bhattacharya, lodged a written complaint before Police Station- Civil Line, Bilaspur, alleging that certain unknown persons, by posing as officials and threatening him with a so- called “digital arrest”, induced him to transfer an amount of Rs.57,00,000/- through internet banking to different bank accounts. On the basis of the said complaint, FIR bearing Crime No. 883/2025 was registered for offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 309(5), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 66-D of the Information Technology Act, 2000. During the course of investigation, the present applicant was implicated on the allegation that a sum of Rs.20,000/- out of the defrauded amount had been credited to his bank account. Consequently, the applicant was arrested on 29.12.2025 and has been in judicial custody since then. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is argued that the applicant had no role in the alleged digital arrest fraud and neither contacted nor induced the complainant to transfer any amount. The only allegation against the applicant is that an amount of Rs.20,000/- was credited to his bank account, which, according to the applicant, was received as salary while he was working in a real estate agency. It is further submitted that there is no direct evidence connecting the applicant with the commission of the alleged offence. The applicant has been in 3 judicial custody since 29.12.2025, the offences are triable by the Magistrate, thus though the charge-sheet has already been filed, the trial is likely to take considerable time to conclude, and being the sole breadwinner of his family, his continued incarceration would cause undue hardship. Therefore, it is prayed that the applicant be enlarged on bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the application and submits that the applicant is an active member and beneficiary of an organized cyber fraud syndicate involved in a large-scale “digital arrest” scam, whereby the complainant was dishonestly induced to transfer an amount of Rs.57,00,000/-. It is submitted that, in compliance with the order dated 26.05.2026, the Station House Officer, Police Station Range Cyber, Bilaspur, has filed a detailed personal affidavit disclosing the evidence collected during investigation. As per the affidavit, the investigation conducted through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) portal, bank transaction details, mobile number analysis and other electronic evidence reveals that the applicant is directly connected with the bank accounts and mobile numbers used in the commission of the offence. It is further submitted that the HDFC account into which Rs.50,00,000/- was transferred was opened in the name of M/s. Shikarpuriya Reality Private Limited using the applicant’s mobile number, and the applicant received the defrauded amount through the linked UPI ID, thereby making him a beneficiary of the crime. The investigation has further 4 disclosed cogent electronic and banking evidence indicating the applicant’s involvement in an organized cyber crime network. Considering the gravity and magnitude of the offence, the organized nature of the crime, the possibility of the applicant absconding as he is a permanent resident of the State of Uttar Pradesh, and the likelihood of his influencing the investigation or indulging in similar offences if released on bail, learned State counsel prays for rejection of the bail application. 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 and upon perusal of the case diary, particularly the affidavit filed by the Station House Officer in compliance with the order dated 26.05.2026, this Court finds that the investigation has collected prima facie material, including bank account details, mobile number analysis and electronic transaction records, indicating the involvement of the present applicant in the alleged organized cyber fraud. The material available on record suggests that the applicant is alleged to be a beneficiary of the defrauded amount and is connected with the bank account and mobile number used in the commission of the offence. Having regard to the gravity and magnitude of the alleged offence involving a cyber fraud of Rs.57,00,000/-, the nature of the evidence collected during investigation, and without expressing any opinion on the 5 merits of the case, this Court is not inclined to extend the benefit of bail to the applicant at this stage. 7. Accordingly, the first bail application of the applicant- Manindar Singh, involved in Crime No.883/2025 registered at Police Station- Civil Line, District- Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4), 309(5), 3(5) of the BNS and 66-D of the I.T. Act, 2000, is rejected at this stage. 8. Needless to say that the trial Court concerned, is at liberty to proceed and conclude the trial expeditiously. 9. Office is directed to provide a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance. - Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Kunal