1 CGHC010156352026 2026:CGHC:30230 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 3756 of 2026 Rampukar Sahu S/o Chhitan Sahu Aged About 31 Years R/o Village Benipur, P.S. Behra, Distt. Darbhanga, Bihar. ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through P.S. Cyber Range, Ambikapur, Distt. Surguja, Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent For Applicant : Mr. Sunil Otwani, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Gopal Swaroop Gupta, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Dr. Sourabh Pande, learned Deputy Advocate General, and Mr. Jitendra Shrivastava, learned Government Advocate Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 16.07.2026 1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 03/2025 registered at Police Station – Cyber Range – Ambikapur District - Surguja (C.G.), for the offences punishable VAIBHAV SINGH Digitally signed by VAIBHAV SINGH Date: 2026.07.20 14:30:36 +0530 2 under Sections 318 (4), 3 (5) and Section 66 (d) I.T. Act. 2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that the complainant Ravi Mohan Goswami has lodged a written complaint before the Police Station Ambikapur, District Surguja to the effect that the unknown persons (accused persons) through the mobile numbers 8577064555,8424855648, 8395943211 and 9991991448 have allured the complainant of getting more money by investing in the share market and the accused persons have got installed their Mobile Applications namely Money Trade 365 and Skytrade from Play-Store and in the QR Code given by the accused persons, the complainant has deposited a total of Rs. 20,15,000 in 84 installments and have defrauded the aforementioned amount complainant/victim, wherein Rs. 1.92 Lacs from SBI Account Number 32829474155, Rs. 1.05 Lacs from SBI Account Number 34506960656, Rs. 20,000 from SBI Account Number 41209990733, Rs Rs. 51,000 from SBI Account Number 20326716390, Rs. 1,27,500 from SBI Account Number 42610048970, Rs. 1.01 Lacs from SBI Account Number 33998537079, Rs. 1 Lac from SBI Account Number 32222472022, Rs. 1.05 Lacs from Bank of Baroda Account Number 86680100021152, Rs. 2,06,500 from Gramin Bank Account Number 77030963395, totaling Rs. 20,11,500, has been defrauded by the accused persons from the victims' pension accounts. Based on this, the pension fund FIR was registered and the matter was taken into investigation. 3 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is submitted that the impugned FIR has been registered against unknown persons and neither discloses the identity of the applicant nor attributes any specific role or overt act to him. There is no direct or cogent material on record to establish any connection of the applicant with the alleged mobile numbers or the mobile applications, namely "Money Trade 365" and "Skytrade". It is further submitted that the prosecution has failed to produce any material to show that the applicant had developed, operated, or controlled the said applications or had induced the complainant to invest money. No part of the alleged cheated amount has been recovered from the possession or bank account of the applicant, nor is there any money trail linking him with the alleged amount of Rs.20,15,000/-. It is argued that the essential ingredients of the offence of cheating are not made out, as there is no material to indicate any fraudulent or dishonest intention on the part of the applicant at the inception of the alleged transaction. Learned counsel further submits that the complainant himself has admitted to transferring the amount in as many as 84 instalments, which indicates that the transactions were made voluntarily over a period of time and were in the nature of investments, rather than the result of deception from the very beginning. It is also submitted that the prosecution case is based entirely on electronic evidence; however, there is no 4 material to establish any digital footprint, IP linkage, device ownership, or account connectivity of the applicant with the alleged offence. The applicant has been implicated merely on suspicion without any concrete evidence. It is further submitted that similarly placed co-accused persons have already been granted regular bail by this Court in MCRC Nos. 10335/2025, 10457/2025, 10048/2025, and 10072/2025, and the case of the present applicant stands on the same footing. The applicant is a permanent resident of the address mentioned in the cause title, there is no likelihood of his absconding, and he undertakes to abide by all the terms and conditions that may be imposed by this Hon'ble Court. Accordingly, it is prayed that the applicant be enlarged on regular bail. 4. Learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has already been filed. It is submitted that, in compliance with the order dated 24.04.2026 passed by this Court, the Investigating Officer has filed an affidavit detailing the role of the present applicant. According to the prosecution, the complainant, Ravi Mohan Goswami, was induced by members of an organised international cyber-fraud syndicate to invest money through fraudulent online trading platforms, namely MoneyTrade365 and SkyTrade, on the false assurance of high and guaranteed returns. Acting on such inducement, the complainant transferred an amount of Rs.2,11,15,000/- through approximately 84 electronic transactions between 25.06.2024 5 and 08.04.2025, resulting in substantial financial loss. 5. It is further submitted that the investigation has revealed that the present applicant, Rampukar Sahu alias Chandan, was an active and indispensable member of the organised cyber-fraud syndicate. The applicant had allegedly arranged a DLF Apartment in his own name by executing a rental agreement after falsely representing to the landlord that he would reside there with his family, whereas the said premises were actually being used by the main accused persons for operating the fraudulent trading platforms. The prosecution further submits that the applicant was apprehended red-handed during the police raid conducted on 30.01.2026 at the said premises, where he was found along with other co-accused actively operating the fraudulent online trading platform. The rental agreement as well as the videography of the raid have been seized during investigation. 6. It is also submitted that the investigation has disclosed the applicant's involvement in the Dubai-based operations of the syndicate. The memorandum statements of co-accused Siddharth Sikka and Vikki Kumar alias Anurag reveal that the applicant was entrusted with receiving and distributing the proceeds of the fraud in the form of Dirhams, amounting to approximately 50,000 to 70,000 Dirhams per month, at the instance of the kingpins of the syndicate. The applicant was also found to be associated with the other members of the syndicate 6 at their Sharjah flat, thereby establishing his active participation in the international operations of the fraud network. 7. Learned State Counsel further submits that the applicant has links with an earlier criminal case arising out of the same syndicate, wherein several co-accused were convicted in Crime No. 0279/2024, registered at Police Station Bindapur, Dwarka, Delhi, under the provisions of the Delhi Public Gambling Act. It is also submitted that numerous complaints against the MoneyTrade365/SmartTrade365 platforms have been registered across the country on the Government of India's Samanvaya Portal, demonstrating that the present case is not an isolated incident but part of a well-organised cyber-fraud racket operating across multiple States. In view of the material collected during investigation, the active role attributed to the applicant, and the seriousness of the offence involving large-scale economic fraud, it is submitted that the applicant is not entitled to the benefit of bail. 8. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 9. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and upon perusal of the case diary, the charge-sheet, and the material available on record, this Court finds that the prosecution case, prima facie, reveals the involvement of the present applicant in a well - organised cyber-fraud syndicate operating through fraudulent online investment and share trading platforms. The prosecution 7 case, in brief, is that the complainant, Ravi Mohan Goswami, lodged a written complaint before Police Station Ambikapur, District Surguja, alleging that unknown persons, by using mobile numbers 8577064555, 8424855648, 8395943211 and 9991991448, induced him to invest money in the share market on the false promise of earning higher returns. Pursuant thereto, the accused persons got installed mobile applications, namely Money Trade 365 and Skytrade, on the complainant's mobile phone and directed him to transfer money through QR Codes provided by them. Acting on such inducement, the complainant transferred a total amount of Rs.20,15,000/- in 84 instalments from his various bank accounts, including his pension accounts, and was thereby cheated of the said amount. On the basis of the complaint, the FIR was registered and the matter was taken up for investigation. During the course of investigation, the investigating agency collected electronic evidence, bank transaction details, digital trails, statements of witnesses, and other incriminating material, which, prima facie, indicate the active participation of the present applicant in the commission of the alleged offence. The allegations pertain to a large-scale, organised economic offence involving cheating of innocent investors through sophisticated online trading platforms by adopting deceptive and technologically advanced methods. Such offences not only cause substantial financial loss to the victims but also undermine public confidence in the digital financial 8 ecosystem. Considering the nature and gravity of the allegations, the magnitude of the financial fraud, the organised manner in which the offence has been committed, and the material collected during the investigation indicating the applicant's prima facie involvement, this Court is of the considered view that no case for grant of regular bail is made out. Accordingly, this Court is not inclined to extend the benefit of regular bail to the present applicant, and the bail application is hereby rejected. 10. Accordingly, the bail application of the applicant namely, Rampukar Sahu, involved in Crime No. 03/2025 registered at Police Station – Cyber Range, Ambikapur District - Surguja (C.G.), for the offences punishable under Section Section 318 (4), 3 (5) and Section 66 (d) I.T. Act, is rejected. 11. Needless to say that the trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed and conclude the trial expeditiously. 12. Office is directed to provide a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. - Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) ChiefJustice vaibhav