1 CGHC010241432026 2026:CGHC:29961 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR M.Cr.C(A) No.1107 of 2026 Gudda @ Aleem Khan S/o Sarpharaj Khan Aged About 45 Years R/o House No. 6, Gram- Sailwar, Police Station- Bajag, District - Dindori (M.P.) (Wrongly Mentioned As Gudda @ Salim Khan In Page No. 14) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station - Chilphi, District- Mungeli (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Shikhar Agnihotri, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Ms. Ankita Shukla, PL.. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order On Board 15.07.2026 1. The Applicant has preferred this anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of Anticipatory Bail, apprehending his SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Digitally signed by SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Date: 2026.07.16 11:07:55 +0530 2 arrest in connection with Crime No.60/2026, registered at Police Station – Chilphi, District Mungeli (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 303(2) and 3(5) of BNS. 2. As per the prosecution case, complainant Ashok Yadav, lodged a report stating that on 01.06.2026, he and other villagers had left their buffaloes and calves for grazing near a pond, but the cattle did not return by evening. Despite searching the nearby villages, the animals could not be traced. Accordingly, a missing cattle report was registered at Outpost Dindori, Police Station Chilfi and an inquiry was initiated. During investigation, witnesses Balram Yadav and Ravindra Yadav stated that at the instance of co-accused Santaram and Mahesh, they had taken two buffaloes, four calves and one heifer to Village Aurapani, for which they were paid Rs.300/- each. Thereafter, a crime was registered against the accused persons. During custodial interrogation, co-accused Santaram Dahariya allegedly disclosed that the stolen cattle had been sold for Rs.80,000/- to the present Applicant and that the Applicant had paid Rs.30,000/- while the remaining Rs.50,000/- was yet to be paid. On the basis of the said complaint, offences mentioned above, were 3 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 contended that the Applicant had merely entered into an agreement with the co-accused Santaram and Mahesh for purchase of the cattle for a total consideration of Rs.80,000/- and had paid only Rs.30,000/- as advance. It is submitted that the Applicant acted as a bona fide purchaser and had no knowledge that the cattle were allegedly stolen. In fact, the co-accused themselves cheated the Applicant by accepting the advance amount without delivering the cattle. It is further argued that the essential ingredients of the offence punishable under Section 303(2) of the BNS are not attracted against the Applicant, as no stolen property was ever delivered to or recovered from his possession. It is lastly submitted that conclusion of trail is likely to take considerable time, therefore, the Applicant may be granted anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the application and submits that there are two previous criminal antecedents of the year 2014 against the present Applicant 4 involving similar offences. It is, however, fairly submitted that both the said cases have culminated in acquittal. 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 material available in the case dairy, the nature and gravity of the allegations, the material collected during investigation, the allegation that the present Applicant had agreed to purchase the stolen cattle and paid an advance amount therefor, the criminal antecedents of the Applicant involving similar offences and without further commenting anything on the merits of the case, this Court is not inclined to extend the benefit of anticipatory bail to the Applicant. 7. Accordingly, the Anticipatory Bail application of the Applicant – Gudda @ Aleem Kha, filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 in connection with Crime No.60/2026, registered at Police Station – Chilphi, District Mungeli (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 303(2) and 3(5) of BNS, is hereby rejected. 5 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