1 CGHC010333452026 2026:CGHC:38890 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No.1440 of 2026 Vikesh Chaurasia @ Bikesh Kumar Chaurasia S/o Ramji Chaurasia Aged About 27 Years R/o House No.280, Indira Colony, Mandir Hasaud, Tehsil And Police Station Mandir Hasaud, District Raipur (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Singhoda, District Mahasamund (C.G.) ... Non-Applicant For Applicant : Mr. Virendra Kashyap, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Ms. Monika Thakur, PL. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 02.09.2026 1. This anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the Applicant who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.04/2026 registered at Police Station – Singhoda, District Mahasamund (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Sections 110, 125(a), 287 and 3(5) of BNS SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Digitally signed by SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA Date: 2026.09.02 17:36:26 +0530 2 as also under Section 4 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 and Section 8(b) of National Highways Act, 1956. 2. As per the prosecution story, on 12.01.2026, complainant Jadhav Pradhan reached near Sant Vastraalaya at Chhuipali Chowk and noticed a vehicle carrying about 50–60 LPG gas cylinders proceeding from Singhoda towards Saraipali. It is alleged that while the vehicle was being driven on NH-53 at Village Chhuipali, the driver, by acting negligently and in violation of the prescribed safety precautions for transportation of inflammable substances, caused the LPG cylinders to catch fire and explode. The incident allegedly created a serious threat to the lives and safety of persons travelling on the National Highway, nearby vehicles, houses and shops and also caused damage to the highway infrastructure, resulting in disruption of traffic for about 6–7 hours. On being asked, the driver disclosed his name as Shailendra Singh Chauhan, his associate as the present Applicant and the vehicle owner as Manish Nabariya. It is further alleged that Shailendra Singh Chauhan sustained burn injuries to his face and both hands in the incident. The prosecution alleges that despite being aware of the risks involved in transporting LPG cylinders and the possibility of 3 fire or explosion upon violation of the prescribed safety norms, the accused persons negligently transported the cylinders, resulting in the fire and explosion and thereby endangering the lives of persons travelling on and residing around the National Highway, amounting to an attempt to cause culpable homicide. Based on these allegations, the offences as mentioned above have been registered against the present Applicant. Hence, this application. 3. Learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that the Applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. He submits that the Applicant was merely a companion/helper in the pickup vehicle bearing registration No. CG-04-PZ-9485 and was not the driver and that the FIR attributes the alleged negligent transportation and handling of LPG cylinders primarily to co-accused Shailendra Singh Chouhan, who was the driver at the relevant time. It is further submitted that co-accused Shailendra Singh Chouhan has already been granted anticipatory bail by this Court vide order dated 09.02.2026 passed in MCRCA No.201/2026, while co- accused Devilal Joshi and Pukhraj Joshi have also been granted regular bail vide orders dated 17.03.2026 and 06.04.2026 passed in MCRC Nos.1549/2026 and 3060/2026, respectively and therefore the Applicant is entitled to the 4 benefit of parity. He further submits that the investigation has been completed and the charge-sheet has been filed, hence custodial interrogation of the Applicant is no longer required. He further submits that the rejection of the Applicant's earlier anticipatory bail application by the learned First Additional Sessions Judge, Saraipali, vide order dated 10.08.2026, mainly on the ground of alleged abscondence and prima facie involvement, deserves reconsideration in view of the subsequent circumstances and the bail granted to the co-accused by this Court. It is lastly submitted that the trial is likely to take considerable time for its conclusion, therefore, the Applicant may be granted anticipatory bail. 4. Per contra, learned State Counsel opposes the anticipatory bail application. 5. Considering the submissions advanced by learned Counsel for the parties, the material available in the case diary, the nature of allegations, the fact that the Applicant was allegedly only a companion/helper in the vehicle and was not the driver, co-accused Shailendra Singh Chouhan, who was the driver of the vehicle at the relevant time, has already been granted anticipatory bail by this Court vide order dated 09.02.2026 passed in MCRCA No.201/2026 and the trial is likely to take considerable time for its conclusion, without further 5 commenting anything upon the merits of the case, this Court is of the considered opinion that it is a fit case to grant anticipatory bail to the Applicant. 6. 6. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the Applicant – Vikesh Chaurasia @ Bikesh Kumar Chaurasia on executing a personal bond with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) The Applicant/s 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 him/her/them from disclosing such fact to the Court. (b) The Applicant/s shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) The Applicant/s shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him/her/them by the said Court till disposal of the trial. (d)The Applicant/s and the surety shall submit a copy of his/her/their adhaar card along with a colored postcard full size photo having printed the adhaar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court. (e)The Applicant/s shall not involve himself/herself/themselves in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Priya