1 CGHC010242992026 2026:CGHC:34287 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 989 of 2026 Sanjay Kumar Bhaskar S/o Nemchand Bhaskar Aged About 28 Years R/o Village Jareli, Police Station Pathariya, District Mungeli C.G. ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Pathariya, Mungeli, District Mungeli C.G. ... Non-Applicant For Applicant : Shri Hemant Kesharwani, Advocate. For Non-Applicant : Shri Shubham Bajpai, PL. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 05/08/2026 1. The applicant has preferred this application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), for grant of anticipatory bail, apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.143/2026, registered at Police Station Pathariya, District Mungeli (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence KRISHNA KUMAR BARVE Digitally signed by KRISHNA KUMAR BARVE Date: 2026.08.06 17:16:42 +0530 2 punishable under Sections 331 (2) & 74 of the BNS and under Section 8 of the POCSO Act. 2. As per the case of the prosecution, on 31.05.2026, the victim aged about 16 years lodged a report before the Police Station Pathariya stating therein that on 06.05.2026 at about 10:00 PM when she was returned from bathroom, the present applicant caught her from back side, grabbed her mouth and molested her. When she raised alarms, the applicant ran away from the house of victim. Thereafter the matter was reported to the police and FIR has been registered. Hence, the bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has falsely been implicated in the present case. He further submits that parents of the victim are in jail in a case of murder and the victim was staying in the house of her maternal uncle and aunt, and at the time of incident, she was all alone. There is exaggeration in the version of the victim to falsely implicate the applicant. Hence he prays to enlarge the applicant on anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposed the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail. 5. Notice has been served to the victim. The victim appears before this Court through VC from the concerned DLSA and opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail to the applicant. 6. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 3 7. Perusal of the statement of the victim recorded under Section 183 of the BNSS goes to show that the victim was all alone in the house. The applicant came to her house and tried to molest her. The victim has also raised alarm to rescue her. Thereafter she went to her maternal uncle and aunt and narrated the incident. It is stated that she was advised by her maternal uncle and aunt to lodge the report. 8. Taking into consideration the nature of allegation made against the present applicant and also considering the statement of the victim recorded under Section 183 of the BNSS that the applicant tried to molest her when she was all alone in her house, I am not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant. 9. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant - Sanjay Kumar Bhaskar, involved in Crime No.143/2026, registered at Police Station Pathariya, District Mungeli (C.G.) for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 331 (2) & 74 of the BNS and under Section 8 of the POCSO Act, is rejected. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Barve 4