1 CGHC010258602026 2026:CGHC:30936 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 6529 of 2026 Ritesh Sahu S/o Jeevan Sahu Aged About 24 Years Caste - Teli, R/o Village Sagarpur, Police Station – Baikunthpur, District- Koriya (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Station House Officer, Police Station Baikunthpur, District- Koriya (C.G.) ... Non-Applicant For Applicant : Mr. Sunil Verma, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Mr. S.S. Baghel, Government Advocate. Hon’ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 21.07.2026 1. This is the Second bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who have been arrested in connection with Crime No. 358/2025 registered at Police Station : Baikunthpur, District- Koriya, C.G. for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 317(2), 317(4) and 317(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. Earlier bail application of the applicant was rejected by this Court vide order dated 04.05.2026 passed in MCRC No. 3095/2025. 3. As per the original records, the applicant is alleged to have provided his bank account to an offender/group for the purposeof earning illegal money through online fraud activities. The applicant has disputed that the bank PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2026.07.22 17:16:45 +0530 2 account (No. 60488797749) belongs to him. As per the complaint acknowledgment numbers 2371024005716 and 31605240034155 an amount of Rs.38,800/- was credited to his account on 03.05.2024 and 06-05-2024 in connection with cyber fraud. Accordingly, it is stated that the applicant knowingly made his bank account available for committing serious online fraud crimes. The crime has been carried out through cyber means in an organized manner, and its impact is widespread. The Police of police station Baikunthpur, District Koriya has registered the case for an offence punishable under Section 111, 317 (2), 317 (4), 317 (5) of B.N.S. against the applicant. 4. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the present case. He further submits that the first bail application which was rejected by this Court vide order dated 04.05.2026 passed in MCRC No. 3095/2026 on merits. He also submits that one of the co-accused, namely, Narbadeshankar Sahu has already been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 01.05.2026 passed in MCRC No. 2958/2026, further the applicant is in jail since 15.11.2025 and only 05 prosecution witnesses have been examined out of total 11 prosecution witnesses, therefore, the trial is likely to take some time for its conclusion. Therefore, he prays that the applicant to be enlarged on bail. 5. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the first bail application of the applicant was rejected on merits. He further submits that the bail applications of two similarly situated co-accused persons have also been rejected by this Court vide order dated 14.07.2026 passed in MCRC Nos. 5626 of 2026 and 5832 of 2026. It is, therefore, contended that no new or substantial change in circumstances has been shown, and consequently, the applicant is not entitled to the grant of bail. 3 6. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 7. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, particularly the fact that the first bail application of the applicant was rejected by this Court vide order dated 04.05.2026 passed in MCRC No. 3095 of 2026 on the ground that the applicant was actively involved in an organised cyber fraud racket by providing his bank account as a mule account for laundering the proceeds of cyber crime, during the course of investigation, it was revealed that the applicant's bank account, opened on 01.05.2024, received total credits amounting to Rs. 7,69,544/-, while a total sum of Rs. 7,66,363.82/- was debited therefrom, this Court also takes note of the fact that the bail applications of two co-accused persons have been rejected by this Court vide order dated 14.07.2026 passed in MCRC Nos. 5626 of 2026 and 5832 of 2026, although one co-accused has been granted bail, the same was on the distinct ground that he had allegedly provided his bank account to a co-accused in consideration of Rs. 2,000/-, and his role is, therefore, distinguishable from that of the present applicant. So far as the status of the trial is concerned, 5 prosecution witnesses have already been examined out of a total of 11 prosecution witnesses. In view of the nature of the allegations, the applicant's prima facie involvement, the reasons recorded while rejecting the earlier bail application, and the progress of the trial, this Court is of the opinion that it is not a fit case for grant of regular bail to the applicant. Accordingly, the bail application deserves to be and is hereby rejected. 8. Accordingly, the second bail application of applicant – Ritesh Sahu involved in Crime No. 358/2025 registered at Police Station : Baikunthpur, District- Koriya, C.G. for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 317(2), 317(4) and 317(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, rejected at 4 this stage. 9. However, this Court hope and trust that the trial Court shall make an earnest endeavour to conclude the trial within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order, if there is no legal impediment. 10. The Office is directed to provide a certified copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Preeti