1 CGHC010190302026 2026:CGHC:30769 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 4482 of 2026 Balram Sahu S/o- Horilal Sahu Aged About 25 Years R/o- B.A. G. E.E. C H A Para, Post Office Kura, Ward No. 15, Kura Raipur, District- Raipur (C.G.) --- Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Dharsiwa, District- Raipur (C.G.) --- Non-applicant(s) For Applicant : Mr. Pragalbha Sharma, Advocate. For Non-applicants/State : Mr. Saumya Rai, Dy. Govt. Advocate. MCRC No. 6204 of 2026 Shailendri Bai Nishad W/o Rupesh Kumar Nishad Aged About 33 Years R/o Mohrenga Chowk Kareli Badi P.S. Magarlod Dist- Dhamtari (C.G.) ---Applicant(s) Versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer Police Station Dharsiwa, District Raipur (C.G.) --- Non-applicant(s) For Applicant : Mr. Y. C. Sharma, Sr. Advocate along with Mr. Anjay Mishra Advocate. For Non-applicants/State : Mr. Saumya Rai, Dy. Govt. Advocate. KUNAL DEWANGAN Digitally signed by KUNAL DEWANGAN 2 MCRC No. 5538 of 2026 Tope Singh Verma S/o- Samaru Ram Verma Aged About 42 Years R/o- Kumhi, Police Station- Berla, District- Bemetara (C.G.) At Present R/o- Verma Printer And Computer Shop, Dharsiwa, District- Raipur (C.G.) ---Applicant(s) Versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station - Dharsiwa, District Raipur (C.G.) ---- Non-Applicant(s) For Applicant : Mr. Ali Afzal Mirza, Advocate. For Non-applicants/State : Mr. Saumya Rai, Dy. Govt. Advocate. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 20/07/2026 1. Since all the the bail applications are arising out of same incidents registered at same police station and the same offences, so they are being heard and decided by this common order. 2. The applicants have preferred these First Bail Applications under Section 483 of BNSS for grant of regular bail, as they have been arrested in connection with Crime No.124/2026, registered at Police Station Dharsiwa, District: Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B, of IPC. 3. In MCRC No. 4482/2026- As per the case of the prosecution, the complainant, Narendra Kumar Verma, lodged a written complaint alleging that he had entrusted a total sum of Rs.40,00,000/- to co- accused Raja Khunte, an employee of IDBI Bank, Charoda Branch, for creating Fixed Deposits in the names of himself and his wife. It 3 is alleged that instead of investing the said amount, co-accused Raja Khunte dishonestly misappropriated the same by misusing blank signed cheques obtained from the complainant and issued forged Fixed Deposit receipts. During the course of investigation, on the basis of the memorandum statement of the co-accused, it was alleged that six forged FD receipts had been printed at Verma Printers and Computers, Dharsiwa. The present applicant, who was working as a Computer Operator at the said establishment, was alleged to have assisted in the preparation of the forged FD receipts. Accordingly, after issuance of notice and interrogation, the applicant was arrested in connection with Crime No.124/2026 registered at Police Station Dharsiwa, District Raipur (C.G.), initially for the offence punishable under Section 420 IPC, and subsequently Sections 467, 468, 471 and 120-B IPC were also added during investigation. 4. In MCRC No. 5538/2026- As per the case of the prosecution, the complainant, Narendra Kumar Verma, alleged that he and his wife had entrusted a total amount of Rs.40,00,000/- to co-accused Raja Khunte, an employee of IDBI Bank, Charoda Branch, for opening Fixed Deposits, after handing over blank signed cheques and other documents. It is alleged that Raja Khunte, instead of creating the Fixed Deposits, dishonestly withdrew and misappropriated the said amount by misusing the blank cheques and thereafter supplied forged FD receipts to the complainant. During investigation, it surfaced that the six forged FD receipts had allegedly been prepared at Verma Printers and Computers, Dharsiwa. On the 4 basis of the memorandum statement of the co-accused and other material collected during investigation, the present applicant, being the proprietor/person associated with the said printing establishment, was implicated on the allegation of facilitating the preparation of the forged FD receipts and thereby conspiring in the commission of the offence. Consequently, he was arrested in connection with Crime No.124/2026 registered at Police Station Dharsiwa, District Raipur (C.G.), initially under Section 420 IPC, to which Sections 467, 468, 471 and 120-B IPC were subsequently added during investigation. 5. In MCRC No. 6204/2026- As per the case of the prosecution, the complainant alleged that co-accused Raja Khunte, an employee of IDBI Bank, Charoda Branch, obtained a total sum of Rs.40,00,000/- along with blank signed cheques from the complainant on different occasions on the pretext of opening Fixed Deposits, but instead dishonestly withdrew and misappropriated the said amount by misusing the blank cheques and issued forged Fixed Deposit receipts. During the course of investigation, it was alleged that co-accused Raja Khunte had opened a bank account in the name of the present applicant and had transferred part of the misappropriated amount into the said account. It is further alleged that the said amount was utilized for the purchase of gold ornaments and in her memorandum statement recorded during investigation, the present applicant stated that Raja Khunte had purchased and given her a gold ring, necklace and earrings weighing 22.300 grams. On the basis of the aforesaid allegations, 5 the present applicant was implicated and arrested in connection with Crime No.124/2026 registered at Police Station Dharsiwa, District Raipur (C.G.), initially for the offence punishable under Section 420 of the IPC, and subsequently Sections 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC were also added during the course of investigation. 6. Learned counsel for the applicants submit that all the applicants are innocent persons and have been falsely implicated in the present case. It is contended that the main allegations of misappropriation of Rs.40,00,000/- and cheating are exclusively against the main accused, Raja Khunte, an employee of IDBI Bank, whereas the present applicants have been arrayed as accused only during the course of investigation on the basis of the memorandum statement of the co-accused, which by itself has no substantive evidentiary value. It is further submitted that the complainant has not levelled any direct allegation against the present applicants and there is no material to establish that they had any dishonest intention, active participation or criminal conspiracy in the alleged offence. The applicant Balram Sahu was merely working as a Computer Operator at Verma Printers and Computers and any work performed by him was in the ordinary course of his employment without knowledge of the alleged forgery, applicant Tope Singh Verma has been implicated merely because he is associated with Verma Printers and Computers, despite there being no allegation that he induced the complainant or derived any wrongful gain from the alleged transaction and applicant Shailendri Bai Nishad has 6 been implicated solely on the allegation that certain amounts were credited into her bank account opened by the main accused, though the prosecution itself does not allege that she handled the complainant's cheques or participated in the withdrawal of the amount. It is further submitted that nothing incriminating has been recovered from the applicants connecting them with the principal offence of cheating, their custodial interrogation is no longer required, the investigation is complete and the applicants have been in judicial custody for a considerable period. It is also submitted that the applicants have no criminal antecedents, therefore, they deserve to be enlarged on bail. 7. On the other hand, learned State counsel appearing for the respondent/State opposes the bail applications and submits that the present case pertains to a well-planned conspiracy involving the fraudulent misappropriation of Rs.40,00,000/- belonging to the complainant, who had entrusted the said amount to co-accused Raja Khunte, an employee of IDBI Bank, Charoda Branch, for opening Fixed Deposits. It is submitted that instead of investing the amount, the co-accused dishonestly withdrew the money by misusing blank signed cheques of the complainant and supplied forged Fixed Deposit receipts to conceal the fraud. During the course of investigation, it has been revealed that the forged FD receipts were prepared at Verma Printers and Computers, Dharsiwa, and the present applicants were actively involved in the commission of the offence. It is further submitted that applicant Balram Sahu participated in the preparation of the forged FD 7 receipts while working as a Computer Operator at the said establishment, applicant Tope Singh Verma, being associated with Verma Printers and Computers, facilitated the preparation of the forged documents and incriminating digital material relating to the forged FD receipts has been seized from the computer system of the establishment and applicant Shailendri Bai Nishad was a beneficiary of the proceeds of crime, as the misappropriated amount was transferred to the bank account opened in her name by co-accused Raja Khunte and was utilized for the purchase of gold ornaments. It is contended that the applicants acted in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy and the material collected during investigation, including the memorandum statements of the co-accused, seizure memos, bank records and other documentary evidence, prima facie establishes their complicity in the offences punishable under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC. Therefore, considering the seriousness and gravity of the offences, learned State counsel prays for rejection of the bail applications. 8. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 9. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature of allegations, the material available on record and the fact that the main allegations of misappropriation of the complainant's amount and misuse of the blank cheques are levelled against the main accused Raja Khunte, the cases of the present applicants being distinguishable from that of the said co-accused, the fact that 8 the applicants have no criminal antecedents, applicant Balram Sahu and applicant Tope Singh Verma being in judicial custody since 27.03.2026 and applicant Shailendri Bai Nishad being a lady and in judicial custody since 22.05.2026, the investigation having been completed, thus without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, I am inclined to allow the present bail applications. 10. Accordingly, the bail applications of the applicants are allowed. 11. Let the Applicants- Balram Sahu, Tope Singh Verma and Shailendri Bai Nishad, involved in Crime No.124/2026, registered at Police Station Dharsiwa, District: Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of IPC., be released on bail on their furnishing a personal bond with two sureties (each) in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicants shall file an undertaking to the effect that they shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law. (ii) The applicants shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through their counsel. In case of their absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against them under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. 9 (iii) In case, the applicants misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure their presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicants fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against them, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicants shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 351 of BNSS. If in the opinion of the trial court absence of the applicants are deliberated or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against them in accordance with law. 12. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Kunal