1 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 487 of 2026 1. Sagram Baghel S/o Late Shobhram Baghel Aged About 54 Years R/o Kotvapara, Baniyagaon, P.S. Bhanpuri, District Bastar (C.G.) 2. Dileshwar Prasad Pandey S/o Late Pitamber Pandey Aged About 61 Years R/o Samantgali, Jagdalpur, P.S. Kotwali, District Bastar (C.G.) ... Applicant(s) versus • State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Police Station Bhanpuri, District Bastar (C.G.) ... Non-Applicant(s) For Applicant : Mr. Pravin Kumar Tulsyan, Advocate For State : Mr. Anil S. Pandey, Government Advocate Hon'ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey Order on Board 02/04/2026 1. The applicants have preferred this first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, apprehending their arrest in connection with Crime No. 60/2023 registered at Police Station Bhanpuri, District Bastar (C.G.) for the commission of offence punishable under Sections 409 and 420 of IPC. 2. As per prosecution story, on 18.07.2023 an F.I.R. was lodged against one Nirghat Singh Thakur to the effect that he embezzled an amount of Rs. 31,34,332/- at Prathmik Vanopaj Sahakari Samiti, Baniyagaon, District SIDDHANT TAMRAKAR Digitally signed by SIDDHANT TAMRAKAR Date: 2026.04.02 16:56:40 +0530 2 Bastar. On such complaint, the police registered the offences as stated above. During course of investigation, it was found that the present applicants, who are forest officials also misappropriated a sum of Rs. 31,34,332/- as amount of Rs. 62,68,664/- deposited with Prathmik Vanopaj Sahakari Samiti, Baniyagaon, was withdrawn by accused person. 3. Mr. Tulsyan would submit that an enquiry was conducted by the Divisional Forest Officer, wherein, it was found that there was collusion between main culprit Nirghat Singh Thakur and the present applicants. Mr. Tulsyan would contend that the bail application of Nirghat Singh Thakur i.e. MCRCA No. 973 of 2023 was rejected vide order dated 03.10.2023 and Criminal Appeal preferred against said order has been allowed vide order dated 06.05.2024 by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. He would pray to allow this application. 4. On the other hand, Mr. Anil S. Pandey would oppose. He would submit that a total sum of Rs. 62,68,664/- was misappropriated by Manager of Prathmik Vanopaj Sahakari Samiti, Baniyagaon, District Bastar and present applicants and that sum was divided equally between them. He would contend that in enquiry report, involvement of the applicants has been established. He would submit that this application deserves to be rejected. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. It appears that an F.I.R. was registered against Nirghat Singh Thakur alone and subsequently, the present applicants were arrayed as accused. 3 The bail application moved by Nirghat Singh Thakur under Section 438 of CrPC was rejected by this Court vide order dated 03.10.2023. He preferred Criminal Appeal No. 2418 of 2024, which has been allowed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 06.05.2024. The applicants are Government servants working with the forest department. 7. Taking into consideration the fact that Nirghat Singh Thakur has already been granted bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the present applicants are Government servants; therefore, I am inclined to allow this anticipatory bail application. 8. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application is allowed. It is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicants in connection with the aforesaid offence, they shall be released on their furnishing a personal bond for a sum of Rs. 50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting officer and they shall abide by the following conditions:- (i) 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 him from disclosing such fact to the Court, (ii) they shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial, and (iii) they shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial, (iv) they shall not involve themselves in any offence of a similar nature in future. The observations made in the course of this order are only for considering the case of the applicants on the application for the grant 4 of anticipatory bail. The concerned trial Court shall not be influenced or bound by any observations made hereinabove. Sd/- (Rakesh Mohan Pandey) JUDGE $iddhant