1 2026:CGHC:4190 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 114 of 2026 1 - Rana Rantidev Singh Varma S/o Jawaharlal Varma Aged About 43 Years R/o Padeguda Road Jhalmala P.S. And Tahsil- Balod And District- Balod, Chhattisgarh ... Applicant versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through, Station House Officer, Police Station - Balod, District : Balod, Chhattisgarh ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Kishore Bhaduri, Senior Advocate assisted by Mr. Harsh Dave, Advocate. For Non-applicant : Mr. Soumya Rai, Dy. G.A. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 23/01/2026 1. This first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.540/2025 registered at Police Station – Balod, District Balod (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Section 316(5) of BNS/ 409 of IPC. 2 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, The Balod Police Station has registered F.I.R No. 540/2025 under Section 316(5) BNS against the applicant on the receiving written report from the Marketing Officer, alleging misappropriation of government paddy and a resulting loss of about five crore rupees to the State. The case is that the applicant, while posted as Collection centre in charge of the Paddy Collection Centre, Jagatara, was entrusted with collection and storage of paddy purchased at support price from farmers of village Jagatara for the procurement year 2024-25. According to the prosecution, the paddy so procured was to be stored at the collection centre and then lifted and transported to rice millers and other designated places within about 4-6 months as per government rules, but on verification after 13 months, a collection shortage was allegedly found in the stock under the control of the applicant. Treating this shortage as deliberate diversion or misappropriation, and not as normal reduction due to drying or moisture loss, the authorities have alleged that the applicant caused wrongful loss to the Government and wrongful gain to himself or others, attracting Section 316(5) relating to criminal misappropriation/breach of trust. Hence, this application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and he has been falsely implicated in this case. It is further submitted that the FIR which has been lodged against the applicant, but no liability of the applicant has been fixed in the crime in question, and only a shortage of paddy has been found. 3 Therefore, he submits that the present applicant is entitled to be released on anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel, appearing for the non - applicant/State, opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail but he could not dispute the ground raised by learned counsel for the applicant. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the facts & circumstances of the case, submissions of learned counsel for the parties, considering the fact that the FIR which has been lodged against the applicant, but no liability of the applicant has been fixed in the crime in question, and only a shortage of paddy has been found, hence, without expressing any opinion on merits, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the present applicant. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant – Rana Rantidev Singh Varma, on executing a personal bond and 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 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 from disclosing such fact to the 4 Court. (b) The applicant shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) The applicant shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial. (d) The applicant and the surety shall submit a copy of his adhaar card along with a coloured postcard full size photo having printed the adhaar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court. (e) The applicant shall not involve himself in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Arpan