1 CGHC010288802026 2026:CGHC:37988 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 1203 of 2026 Theodore Peters S/o Shri Nathaniel Peters Aged About 78 Years R/o - Mission Compound, Bus Stand Kota, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh --- Petitioner(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through - Police Station Kota Bilaspur District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh --- Respondent(s) MCRCA No. 1355 of 2026 Sourabh Peters S/o Shri Theodore Peters Aged About 33 Years R/o Mission Compound, Bus Stand Kota, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh ---Petitioner(s) Versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Kota Bilaspur District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh --- Respondent(s) MCRCA No. 1352 of 2026 Sunilesh Peters S/o Shri Theodore Peters, Aged About 36 Years R/o Mission Compound, Bus Stand Kota, District Bilaspur C.G. ---Petitioner(s) Versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Kota Bilaspur District Bilaspur C.G --- Respondent(s) MCRCA No. 1212 of 2026 Suleman Das S/o Shri David Mattidas Aged About 30 Years R/o Firangipara, Kota, Police Station Kota, District- Bilaspur Chhattisgarh ---Petitioner(s) SUMIT KUMAR Digitally signed by SUMIT KUMAR Date: 2026.08.25 11:13:11 +0530 2 Versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Kota, Bilaspur District- Bilaspur Chhattisgarh --- Respondent(s) MCRCA No. 1255 of 2026 Raja Saloman S/o Shri D S Das Aged About 53 Years R/o Kota, Mission Compound, Bus Stand, Ward No. 07 Rajeev Gandhi Ward, Kargi Road Kota, Police Station Kota, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh ---Petitioner(s) Versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Kota Bilaspur District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh --- Respondent(s) MCRCA No. 1260 of 2026 Anil Masih S/o Late Shri Samaru Masih Aged About 59 Years R/o Kota Bazarpara, Bus Stand, Ward No.07 Rajeev Gandhi Ward, Kargi Road Kota, Police Station Kota, District- Bilaspur Chhattisgarh. ---Petitioner(s) Versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Police Station Kota Bilaspur District- Bilaspur Chhattisgarh. --- Respondent(s) For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Curtis Collins, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Ms. Vaishali Mahilong, Advocate (Hon’ble Shri Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, J.) Order on Board 24/08/2026 1. These first anticipatory bail applications under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 have been filed by the applicants, who are apprehending their arrest in connection with Crime No.542/2026 registered at Police Station – Kota, District - Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Section 7(2) of the Protection 3 of Civil rights Act, 1955 and Section 66(D) of the I.T. Act. and Sections 196(1)(b), 196(2), 351(2), 352, 353(2), 353(3) & 356(2) of the BNS. 2. As per the prosecutions case, the present applicants alongwith the other members of the Executive Body of the church allegedly passed a resolution placing the complainant, who was serving as the Pastorate/Permanent Resident of the church and his family under "Not in Good Standing." It is alleged that, as a consequence of the said resolution, the complainant and his family were ostracized from the church community, resulting in social exclusion, humiliation and irreparable damage to their reputation and dignity. On the basis of the complaint, the police registered the FIR against the applicants and the other accused persons for the offences alleged therein and commenced the investigation. 3. Learned counsel for the applicants would submit that the applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. It is contended that the learned Trial Court has erroneously rejected the bail applications without proper appreciation of the facts and material available on record. It is further submitted that the applicants are permanent members of the Executive Body of the CNI Church and have maintained an unblemished reputation for over a decade. It is argued that, due to a dispute between the Executive Body of the Church and the Pastorate Committee/Permanent Residents, including the complainant, the applicants made sincere efforts to resolve the discord and even recommended the complainant's name for promotion before the Bishop. It is further argued that, instead of availing the grievance redressal mechanism provided under the CNI Act, 2017, the 4 complainant initiated civil and writ proceedings and thereafter lodged the present FIR with a mala fide intention to pressurize the Church authorities. Learned counsel submits that the Executive Body independently passed the resolution placing the complainant under "Not in Good Standing" on account of alleged financial irregularities and violations of the Church by-laws, and that the applicants neither proposed nor signed the said resolution. It is further contended that the Executive Body itself had no jurisdiction to pass such a resolution and, therefore, the allegations of social boycott against the applicants are wholly misconceived. It is also submitted that there is no cogent material connecting the applicants with the alleged offences and that their implication is based solely on suspicion and conjecture. The applicants are permanent residents of the locality, have deep roots in society, are not likely to abscond or tamper with the evidence, and are willing to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Accordingly, it is prayed that the applicants be enlarged on bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the anticipatory bail applications of the present applicants. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the submissions advanced by learned counsel for the parties, the nature of the dispute, the material available on record and further considering the fact that the co-accused has already been anticipatory bail namely Manish R Masih passed in MCRCA No. 1121/2026 by this Court on 17.07.2026, and the cases of the applcants herein are on the same footing, 5 therefore, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this Court is of the considered view that the applicants have made out a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA No. 1203/2026 - Theodore Peters, MCRCA No.1212/2026 - Suleman Das, MCRCA No.1255/2026 – Raja Saloman, MCRCA No.1260/2026 – Anil Masih, MCRCA No.1352/2026 – Sunilesh Peters and MCRCA No.1355/2026 – Sourabh Peters are allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicants, on executing a personal bond in the sum of Rs. 50,000/- each, with one surety each in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, they shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) they shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade them from disclosing such fact to the Court. (b) they shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) they shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to them by the said Court till disposal of the trial. (d) the applicants and the surety shall submit a copy of their aadhar card alongwith a coloured postcard full size photo having printed the aadhar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court. (e) they shall not involve themselves in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) JUDGE Sumit