1 CGHC010328952026 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 8008 of 2026 Sanjay Khunte @ Bablu Khunte S/o Panchram Khunte Aged About 33 Years R/o Village Bhauwakapa, Police Station Kota, District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer Police Station- Kota, District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh .. Respondent For Applicant : Mr. Manoj Kumar Yadav, Adv. For Respondent/State : Mr. Kalpesh Ruparel, P.L. Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal Order On Board 31/08/2026 1. The applicant has preferred this 1st bail application under Section 483 of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Act 2023 for grant of regular bail as he is arrested in connection with crime No.828/2025, registered at Police Station – Kota, District- Bilaspur (C.G.) for offence punishable under Sections 302, 201, 404 & 34 of IPC. 2. In this case there are total 3 accused persons out of which two have already been granted bail. The prosecution's case, is that deceased George Michael lived alone in his own house. On 16.05.2022, at about SHUBHAM SINGH RAGHUVANSHI Digitally signed by SHUBHAM SINGH RAGHUVANSHI Date: 2026.08.31 14:21:31 +0530 2 8:00 pm, one Ashutosh Dewangan saw him returning home on his Activa Scooter. On 17.05.2022, at about 11:00 am, Applicant Sanjay Khunte @ Bablu Khute went inside the house and found George Michael lying dead on the bed. He informed the Police by mobile phone. On receiving information, the Police personnel reached the spot and found the deceased lying on the bed. Blood was oozing from his nose and mouth, and the body had turned black. The informant, namely George Harriel, brother of deceased, reported that his younger brother George Michael, had died under suspicious circumstances sometime between 8:00 p.m., on 16.05.2022 and 11:00 a.m., on 17.05.2022. On the basis of the said information, a case of unnatural death was registered, inquest proceedings were initiated in accordance with law and the dead body was sent for postmortem examination. The postmortem report did not reveal the exact cause of death, and accordingly, the viscera of deceased was preserved and sent to the FSL, Bilaspur for chemical examination. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the crime in question. At the time of the incident, the applicant was not present in Kota and had gone to attend a marriage function. He further submits that there is no direct allegation against the applicant and he has been implicated in this case only on the basis of circumstantial evidence. The applicant is in custody since 17.09.2025. Out of 14 prosecution witnesses, only 9 have been examined till date and the trial is likely to take considerable time to conclude. In view of the above, it is prayed that the applicant may be enlarged on bail. 4. Per contra, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State opposes the bail application and submits that there is active participation of the applicant in the present case and the viscera has tested positive for the presence of ethyl alcohol and aluminium phosphide. Therefore, considering the gravity and nature of the offence, the applicant does not deserve to be granted bail. 5. I have heard learned Counsel appearing for the parties and perused the material available on record. 3 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the evidence collected by the prosecution against the applicant, without commenting on merits of the case, I am not inclined to release the applicant on bail. 7. Accordingly, the bail application is rejected. 8. However, looking to the detention period of the applicant, the concerned Trial Court is directed to expedite the trial and to ensure that the trial is concluded as early as possible. Sd/- (Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) Judge Shubham