1 CGHC010264662026 2026:CGHC:30464 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 1122 of 2026 Tejraj Sonwani S/o Dhola Ram Aged About 41 Years R/o Village Kansdohar, Post Narsinghpur Choura P.S. Rajpur District Balrampur Ramanujganj C.G. ...Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Batoli, District Surguja C.G. (Note Offence Are Correct Mention In Impugned As Per Fir)...Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Navneet Kumar Yadav, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Ms. Smita Shrivastava, Panel Lawyer. Hon’ble Shri Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, J. Order on Board 17.07.2026 1. This first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.120/2025 registered at Police Station - Batoli, District - Surguja (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Sections 281 of the BNS and Section 11(1) (d) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and Section 4,6,10 of the CG. Agricultural Cattle Prevention Act, 2004. VAIBHAV SINGH Digitally signed by VAIBHAV SINGH Date: 2026.07.20 11:10:13 +0530 2 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief is that on 15.12.2025 the complainant namely Bal Govind Yadav has lodged the FIR with respect to the pickup vehicle bearing Registration No. UP-64 BT-4247 alleging that on 15.12.2025 On coming out, he found that a Mahindra Bolero Pickup bearing Registration No. UP-64 BT-4247 had overturned on the roadside. Upon inspection, it was found that nine cattle had been loaded inside the pickup in a cruel manner by tying their legs and horns with ropes. Due to the alleged rash and negligent driving of the vehicle, the pickup overturned, resulting in the death of four cattle and injuries to five cattle. Thereafter the Police Station Batoli registered a case as a crime No. 120/2025 for the offence punishable under section 281of BNS, 2023, section 4, 6, 10 of the Chhattisgarh Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act, 2004 and section 11(1)(d) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act against the pickup vehicle bearing Registration No. UP-64 BT-4247, the police station Batoli during the investigation the present applicant is implicated in this case as accused. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case due to enmity, and that no prima facie case is made out against him. It is contended that the applicant has not committed any offence punishable under Section 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Sections 4, 6 and 10 of the Chhattisgarh Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act, 2004, or Section 11(1)(d) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. It is further submitted that the FIR was lodged only in respect of the pickup vehicle bearing Registration No. UP-64 BT-4247, and the applicant has not been named as an accused 3 BT-424, and the applicant has not been named as an accused therein. The applicant was neither present at the place of occurrence nor driving the vehicle at the relevant time, and there is no specific allegation or material to show his involvement in the alleged offence. It is submitted that the applicant is engaged in the business of transportation and owns several commercial vehicles, which are ordinarily given on hire to different drivers/operators. The vehicle in question had been purchased by the applicant through a Vehicle Sale Agreement dated 24.11.2025 and was entrusted to one Sheru Khan for operation on hire, who used to transfer the hire charges to the bank account of the applicant's wife through digital transactions. Learned counsel submits that the applicant had no knowledge whatsoever of the alleged transportation of cattle and has been implicated solely on account of his connection with the vehicle, which by itself does not establish his criminal liability. It is further submitted that the applicant has no criminal antecedents, is ready to abide by all the terms and conditions that may be imposed by this Hon'ble Court, and, therefore, prays that he be enlarged on anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel appearing for the State/non-applicant opposes the bail application and submits that the investigation has revealed that the pickup vehicle bearing Registration No. UP-64 BT-4247, of which the present applicant is the owner, was being used for the illegal transportation of cattle in a cruel manner. It is submitted that nine cattle were found loaded inside the vehicle with their legs and horns tied by ropes, and due to the rash and negligent driving of the vehicle, it overturned, resulting in the death of four cattle 4 and injuries to five cattle. Learned State Counsel further submits that the applicant, being the registered owner of the offending vehicle, cannot escape liability at this stage of the proceedings. It is also contended that the applicant has one previous criminal case of a similar nature registered against him, which reflects his propensity to indulge in such offences. Considering the gravity of the allegations, the manner in which the offence was committed, and the applicant's criminal antecedent, therefore, the present applicant is not entitled to be enlarged on anticipatory bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and upon perusal of the case diary and the material available on record, this Court finds that the allegations against the applicant are serious in nature. Prima facie, the investigation reveals that the applicant is the owner of the pickup vehicle bearing Registration No. UP-64 BT-4247, which was allegedly used for the illegal transportation of cattle. It is alleged that nine cattle were being transported in a cruel manner and, due to the overturning of the vehicle, four cattle died and five sustained injuries. At this stage, the material collected during the investigation prima facie connects the applicant with the alleged offence. It is also not disputed that the applicant has one previous criminal antecedent of a similar nature. Considering the gravity of the allegations, the material available on record, and the applicant's criminal antecedent, this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant. 5 7. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant – Tejraj Sonwani, involved in Crime No.120/2025 registered at Police Station - Batoli, District - Surguja (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Sections 281 of the BNS and Section 11(1)(d) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and Section 4,6,10 of the CG. Agricultural Cattle Prevention Act, 2004, is rejected. Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) Judge vaibhav