1 CGHC010323242026 2026:CGHC:37569 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 7796 of 2026 Shahid Quraishi S/o- Late Faiz Mohammad Quraishi Aged About 35 Years R/o- 102, Ward No. 07 Lal Bahadur Ward, Nagar Panchayat Bodri District- Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police Station Chakarbhata, District – Bilaspur (C.G.) ---- Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Sachin Nidhi, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Ms. Palak Dwivedi, Panel Lawyer. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 21.08.2026 1. The applicant has preferred this Second Bail Application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) in connection with Crime No.375/2025, registered at Police Station – Chakarbhata, District – Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Section 80(2) and 3(5) of the BNS. 2. Earlier the first bail application of the applicant was rejected by this Court vide order dated 04.02.2026 passed in MCRC No.1201/2026, on merits. 3. The prosecution story in brief, is that on 08.09.2025, the informant, Shahid Quraishi, son of Late Faizal Mohammad Quraishi, lodged a report at Police Station Chakarbhatha stating that he resides behind RAJSHEKHAR SONI Digitally signed by RAJSHEKHAR SONI 2 Vasu Mangalam, Ward No. 7, Chakarbhatha, and works at the electricity office there. After completing his night duty, he returned home at about 8:30 AM and later went to Chakarbhatha market at around 10:00 AM. He called his wife, but she did not answer. Upon returning home, he found the bedroom door locked from the inside. Despite calling out to his wife, there was no response. When he looked through the ventilation window, he saw his wife hanging from the ceiling fan with a dupatta. He immediately informed Dial 112 and in the presence of neighbors Ishwar Yadav and Akhilesh Kaushik, the door was broken open. On the basis of this report, a merg intimation was registered at Police Station Chakarbhatha vide Marg No. 57/2025 under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. During inquiry, on the basis of the inquest proceedings, merg panchnama, statements of witnesses, spot inspection, and post- mortem report, the Station House Officer, Chakarbhatha, found that the deceased, Afroz Khan, had allegedly committed suicide by hanging due to harassment for dowry by Shahid Quraishi, Naseeba Quraishi, and Anaya Quraishi from 05.07.2024 until the morning of 08.09.2025. Accordingly, Crime No. 375/2025 was registered for offences punishable under Section 80(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 against the applicant and other co-accused persons. On the basis of evidence collected during investigation, the FIR was registered, the applicant Shahid Quraishi was arrested, and after completion of investigation, the charge-sheet has been filed. Hence, this application. 4. It has been argued by the learned counsel for the applicant that the 3 applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. It is further submitted that this second bail application is on the ground that the applicant is in jail since 24.09.2025, and so far as the status of the trial is concerned, out of 19 prosecution witnesses, only 5 have been examined before the trial Court and their statements have been recorded, in which, the father and brother of the deceased have turned hostile, therefore, he prays for grant of bail. 5. On the other hand, learned State counsel submits that the marriage between the applicant and the deceased was solemnized on 04.07.2024, and soon thereafter the deceased was subjected to harassment by the applicant in connection with unlawful demands for dowry. It is submitted that the applicant and his family members had demanded Rs.5,00,000/- as dowry, and immediately thereafter, on the very next day, the father of the deceased transferred Rs.1,50,000/- through online mode to the account of the applicant's father while the remaining amount was being demanded from time to time. Owing to continuous pressure and harassment over these demands, the deceased was unable to bear the situation and ultimately committed suicide by hanging. Hence, considering the serious allegations and circumstances of the case, the present applicant is not entitled for grant of bail. 6. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 7. Taking into consideration the fact that the first bail application of the applicants was rejected by this Court on merits vide order dated 4 04.02.2026 passed in MCRC No. 1201/2026, and that the present second bail application has been filed primarily on the ground that the applicant has been in custody since 24.09.2025, and as the status of the trial is concerned so far, out of 19 prosecution witnesses, only 5 witnesses have been examined and their statements have been recorded before the learned trial Court. Though the father and brother of the deceased have turned hostile, but considering the overall circumstances surrounding the death of the deceased, who allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself, it is alleged that the applicant and his family members had demanded a sum of Rs.5,00,000/- as dowry and, immediately thereafter, on the very next day, the father of the deceased transferred a sum of Rs.1,50,000/- through online mode to the account of the applicant's father, while the remaining amount was allegedly demanded from time to time, and thereafter, owing to the continuous pressure and harassment on account of such demands, the deceased was unable to bear the situation and ultimately committed suicide by hanging herself. In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the applicant. 8. Accordingly, this second bail application of applicant – Shahid Quraishi, involved in Crime No.375/2025, registered at Police Station – Chakarbhata, District – Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Section 80(2) and 3(5) of the BNS, is rejected at this stage. 9. However, this Court hopes and trusts that the trial Court shall make earnest endeavour to conclude the trial expeditiously, preferably within a period of six months from the date of passing of this order, if there is no legal impediment. 5 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 Rajshekhar