1 CGHC010170552026 2026:CGHC:28970 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 4147 of 2026 Balram Yadav @ Ballu S/o Firtram Yadav Aged About 29 Years R/o Sanjay Nagar, Ward No. 4, Jaijaipur, Distt. Sakti, Chhattisgarh. ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, P.S. Champa, Distt. Janjgir Champa, Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent For Applicant : Mr. Ashutosh Trivedi, Advocate. For Respondent : Dr. Sourabh Kumar Pandey, Dy. Advocate General. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 10.07.2026 1. This is the First bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant arrested in connection with Crime No. 365/2025 registered at Police Station Champa, District Janjgir-Champa (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 317 (2), 317 (4), 317 (5) & 111 (1) of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, “BNS”). 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that a report was lodged at Police Station Champa regarding a cyber fraud involving an amount of Rs. 1,30,92,073/-. On the basis of the said report, Crime No. 365/2025 was registered for offences punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4) and 317(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. During 2 the course of investigation, the police arrested accused Balram Yadav @ Ballu, who allegedly confessed that he had committed the cyber fraud in connivance with the co-accused persons namely Harish Yadav and Michael by opening a mule bank account in his name at ICICI Bank, Branch Champa and used the said account for depositing and channelizing proceeds of cyber fraud amounting to approximately Rs. 1,30,92,073/-. On the basis of said memorandum statement, the present applicant was also arrested. Hence, his bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the present applicant is innocent and has no manner of involvement in the alleged commission of the online fraud or in receipt of any alleged fraudulent amount. He further submits that as per the prosecution case, the alleged defrauded amount of Rs. 1,30,92,073/- was deposited in Bank Account No. 177405500454 maintained with ICICI Bank. He submits that upon discovering the fraudulent transactions, the applicant himself lodged a complaint against co- accused Harish Yadav and Michael Sahu at Police Station Jaijaipur on 12.04.2024, which resulted in the registration of Crime No. 82 /2024 against them, which clearly demonstrate the bonafides and lack of criminal intent. The applicant is languishing in jail since 26.08.2025 (wrongly mentioned in Annexue A-1 as 26.04.2025); charge-sheet has already been filed and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take considerable time. Hence, the applicant may be enlarged on regular bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail 3 application and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case. He further submits that the present applicant allegedly in connivance with co-accused persons namely Harish Yadav and Michael Sahu, facilitated the opening of a bank account in his name at ICICI Bank, Branch Champa, and used the said account as a mule account for depositing and channelizing proceeds of cyber fraud amounting to approximately Rs. 1,30,92,073/-. It is alleged that the said account was utilized for receiving amounts obtained through cyber fraud committed in different States. 5. Learned State Counsel also submits that in compliance of the Court's order dated 05.05.2026, the concerned Investigating Officer (I.O.) has filed his personal affidavit disclosing the evidence collected during the course of investigation, the concerned I.O. in para 6 of his affidavit stated that during course of investigation, the account holder, namely Balram Yadav @ Ballu, S/o Firat Ram Yadav, R/o Sanjay Nagar, Ward No. 04, Jaijaipur, District Sakti, was apprehended ad interrogated by the Investigating agency. In his memorandum statement recorded under Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act, he categorically deposed that he resides in Sanjay Nagar, Jaijaipur and runs an egg cart at Dashera Maidan. In 2023, he ran a shop called as “Rahul Cold Drink in the name of his younger brother. At that time, his friend Harish Yadav told him that, his shops is too small, he has very few items and further to expand his shop. Thereafter, he told about Michal Sahu, who has good connections with bank officials and can easily get him a loan in his shop's name. Michael Sahu allegedly assured him that through his 4 acquaintance Sonu Kumar, stated to be an employee of ICICI Bank, Champa Branch, a business loan could be arranged in his favour. Acting upon such assurance, present applicant obtained a Gumasta (shop Establishment) licence and opened a bank account. Thereafter, the said Sonu Kumar allured him to provide his bank account on rent, then the present applicant rented the aforesaid bank account to the said Michel and the said Michel Promised him to give 1% commission to the present accused/applicant on the total transacted amount, which was received through cyber fraud. Initially, the said Michal gave him Rs. 5000/- each for a few months and after that, he stopped giving money to him. It is alleged that a total amount of Rs.1,30,92,073/- has been credited in the aforesaid ICICI Bank Account Number of the present applicant during the short span of time period since its opening from 09.02.2023. He further submits that the considering the nature of allegations made against the applicant, he is not entitled to be released on bail. 6. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 7. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of offence and considering the fact that present applicant allegedly in connivance with co-accused persons namely Harish Yadav and Michael Sahu, facilitated the opening of a bank account in his name at ICICI Bank, Branch Champa, and used the said account as a mule account for depositing and channelizing proceeds of cyber fraud amounting to approximately Rs. 1,30,92,073/-, thus, this Court is of the opinion that it is not a fit case 5 to enlarge the applicant on regular bail. 8. Accordingly, this bail application of applicant – Balram Yadav @ Ballu involved in Crime No. 365/2025 registered at Police Station Champa, District Janjgir-Champa (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 317 (2), 317 (4), 317 (5) & 111 (1) of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, is rejected at this stage. 9. Registry is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice AMIT KUMAR DUBEY Digitally signed by AMIT KUMAR DUBEY Date: 2026.07.13 16:01:36 +0530