1 2026:CGHC:1167 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 125 of 2026 Rahul Verma S/o Shri Jitendra Kumar Verma Aged About 20 Years R/o A-16, Sector-02, Ekta Nagar, Gudhiyari, Raipur, C.G. ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Range Cyber Police Station, Civil Lines, Raipur, District – Raipur, C.G. ---- Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Palash Agrawal, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Mr. Dharmesh Shrivastava, Dy. Advocate General. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 08.01.2026 1. The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No.44/2025 registered at Police Station – Civil Line Raipur, District – Raipur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111 and 3(5) of the BNS. 2. The prosecution story, in brief, is that on 20.01.2025, the First Information Report (F.I.R.) was lodged by the Police of Police Station - Civil Lines (Cyber Range), Raipur (C.G.) stating that the accused persons, being mule bank account holders/facilitators, knowingly and intentionally allowed their bank accounts to be used for receiving, RAJSHEKHAR SONI Digitally signed by RAJSHEKHAR SONI 2 concealing and utilizing the proceeds of cyber fraud. As per information received through the "Samanvay" Portal operated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, and on the basis of an application from the Range Cyber Police Station, Raipur, it was revealed that in Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, Raipur Branch (IFSC: UTKS0001400), a total amount of ₹36,48,448/- obtained through cyber fraud was deposited in 104 bank accounts during the period from 01.01.2024 to 31.12.2024. The said amount was subsequently withdrawn and utilized by the account holders/facilitators, who were aware or had sufficient reason to believe that the money was dishonestly obtained through fraudulent means. By opening and operating such accounts for the purpose of receiving and laundering cyber fraud proceeds, the accused actively facilitated cyber offences, thereby committing offences punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Hence, this application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicants have been falsely implicated in the case. It is further submitted that a similarly situated co-accused, namely Harmeet Singh @Yashmit, Saurabh Pal and Tanishq Singh Bhatia and Shubham Singh Thakur, have already been enlarged on bail by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) Nos. 15006/2025, 12849/2025, 15613/2025 and 17452/2025 vide order dated 19.11.2025, respectively, and on the same ground the co-accused namely Om Arya and Praveen Thakur have been granted bail by this Court vide orders dated 27.11.2025 and 06.01.2026 passed in MCRC Nos. 9388/2025 and 09/2026, and other co-accused have also been granted bail by this 3 Court on the same ground in MCRC Nos.10383/2025, 10437/2025, 10402/2025, 10389/2025, 10435/2025, 10434/2025, 10414/2025, 10413/2025, 10410/2025, 10403/2025, 10399/2025, 10393/2025, 10390/2025 and 10385/2025 on 19.12.2025. In view of the principle of parity, learned counsel prays that the applicants may also be enlarged on bail. 4. On the other hand, the learned State counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in this case. It is further submitted that the information was received through cyber crime reporting portal coordination that 104 bank accounts have been accounts have been opened in Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Branch Civil Lines Raipur IFSC Code UTKS0001400 which are being used to received money from cyber fraud, as per the instruction received from Police Headquarters, a letter along with the details of the above incident was sent to Civil Lines Police Station, Raipur (C.G.), thereafter the FIR was registered against 104 bank accounts holder including the applicant and the applicant was arrested by the Police of concerned Police Station concerned, therefore, he is not entitled for grant of bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused all of the documents available on record. 6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of allegation levelled against the applicant and the fact that the charge-sheet has been filed against the applicant, and further the fact that a similarly situated co-accused, namely Harmeet Singh @Yashmit, Saurabh Pal and Tanishq Singh Bhatia and Shubham 4 Singh Thakur, have already been enlarged on bail by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) Nos. 15006/2025, 12849/2025, 15613/2025 and 17452/2025 vide order dated 19.11.2025, respectively, and on the same ground the co-accused namely Om Arya and Praveen Thakur have been granted bail by this Court vide orders dated 27.11.2025 and 06.01.2026 passed in MCRC Nos. 9388/2025 and 09/2026, and other co-accused have also been granted bail by this Court on the same ground in MCRC Nos.10383/2025, 10437/2025, 10402/2025, 10389/2025, 10435/2025, 10434/2025, 10414/2025, 10413/2025, 10410/2025, 10403/2025, 10399/2025, 10393/2025, 10390/2025 and 10385/2025 on 19.12.2025. 7. In view of the principle of parity and considering the submissions that the applicants have been falsely implicated, this Court is of the view that the applicants are also entitled to the benefit of bail. While the offences alleged are serious, the applicants' release on bail shall be subject to appropriate conditions to ensure that the trial proceeds without obstruction and that the applicant does not influence witnesses or tamper with evidence. Accordingly, the instant bail application of the applicant is allowed. 8. Let applicant, Rahul Verma, involved in Crime No.44/2025 registered at Police Station – Civil Line Raipur, District – Raipur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5), 111 and 3(5) of the BNS, be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond with two sureties in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect 5 that he 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 applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicant 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 applicant is deliberate 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 him in accordance with law. 9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Rajshekhar