1 CGHC010363292026 2026:CGHC:42208 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 8680 of 2026 1 - Ajay Sanvra S/o Dilip Sanvra Aged About 22 Years R/o Village Podi, P.S. Ratanpur, District Bilaspur (C.G.) 2 - Ravi Kumar S/o Bholaram Sanvra Aged About 36 Years R/o Village Podi, P.S. Ratanpur, District Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Applicants versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Forest Circle Ratanpur District Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Respondent (Cause title is taken from CIS) For Applicants : Mr. Vikas Patel, Advocate For State/Respondent : Mr. Ram Narayan Sahu, Dy G.A. Hon’ble Shri Justice Parth Prateem Sahu Order on Board 28/09/2026 1. Applicants have filed this first bail application under Section 483 of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail as they have been arrested in connection with Crime No. POR RAVI SHANKAR MANDAVI Digitally signed by RAVI SHANKAR MANDAVI 2 No.17774/08 registered at Police Station – Ratanpur, District Bilaspur (C.G.) for offences punishable under Section 09, 50, 51 r/w. Section 02(16)(b) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. 2. Case of prosecution is that the Police of Forest Range Ratanpur, District Bilaspur (C.G.), received information from the Cyber Cell that in social media video present applicants were allegedly found teasing a Large Bengal Monitor Lizard (Varanus bengalensis) inside Sagoun Plantation, Ghasipur. Upon receiving such information, officials of forest department reached on the spot and arrested the present applicants. 3. Learned counsel for applicants submits that applicants had been falsely implicated in the crime, they have not committed any crime. Learned counsel for the applicants submits that applicants have been made accused only on the basis of video uploaded in the social media allegedly by one Ajay Kumar Maravi. There is no seizure from the applicants and applicants are not having any criminal antecedents. The applicants are in jail since 29.07.2026. Charge-sheet has been filed. Trial may take some time, hence, applicant may be enlarged on bail. 4. Learned State counsel opposes the submission of learned counsel for applicants, however he do not dispute the submission made by learned counsel for the applicants that there is no criminal antecedent against the applicants and further that the case is based on the video clip uploaded on social media 3 allegedly by one Ajay Kumar Maravi, who allegedly along with the applicants have committed the offence, therefore, the applicants are not entitled for grant of regular bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties. 6. Considering facts of the case, nature of offence, submission of learned counsel for the parties, period of detention of applicants, further considering that there is no criminal antecedent against the applicants and the charge-sheet has been filed, offence to be triable by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, without commenting anything on merits of the case, I am inclined to allow this bail application. 7. Accordingly, bail application is allowed. It is directed that the applicants shall be released on regular bail, upon each of them furnishing bail bond in the sum of ₹ 25,000/- with one surety in like sum to the satisfaction of the Court on the conditions that- (a) The applicants shall file an undertaking to the effect that they shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law. (b) The applicants shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against them under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. 4 (c) In case, the applicants misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure their presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. are issued and the applicants fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against them, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (d) The applicants shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 351 of BNSS. If in the opinion of the trial court absence of the applicants are deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against them in accordance with law. 8. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Parth Prateem Sahu) JUDGE Ravi Mandavi