1 2026:CGHC:15867 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR CRA No. 822 of 2026 1 - Rajesh Kumar Sharma S/o Hajari Lal Sharma, Aged About 55 Years, R/o Ward No. 07, Nagar Panchayat Bilaigarh, P.S. Bilaigarh, District- Sarangarh-Bilaigarh (CG). ... Appellant versus 1 - State Of C.G. Through Police Station Bilaigarh, District- Sarangarh-Bilaigarh (CG). ... Respondent For Appellant : Mr. T.K. Jha, Adv. with Mr. Rohan Kumbhare, Adv. For Respondent/State : Mr. T. Nande, P.L. Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal Order On Board 07/04/2026 1. This appeal is filed under Section 14-A(2) of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 for grant of regular bail to the appellant as he is arrested in connection with Crime No. 13/2026 registered at police station Bilaigarh, District Bilaigarh-Sarangarh (C.G.) for commission of offence punishable under Sections 79 of BNS and Sections 3(2)(v-a) of SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. 2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the complainants are working as cleaners (
वछ क ) in Nagar Panchayat Bilaiagarh. The appellant/accused is the husband of Kirti Sharma, who is the Councilor of Ward No. 7 of the said Nagar Panchayat. The complainants have been working as cleaners since March 2025, where the appellant/accused has been harassing them and behaving inappropriately. On 02.09.2025, the appellant/accused called them to the Nagar Panchayat office SOURABH PATEL Digitally signed by SOURABH PATEL Date: 2026.04.07 16:37:08 +0530 2 one by one under the pretext of a meeting and misbehaved with them, using caste-based abuses and filthy words relating to their character. He also stated that they belong to a lower caste and threatened to remove them from service. On a complaint being made in this regard, an offence was registered against the appellant. 3. By order dated 18.03.2026 passed by the learned Special Judge in Crime No. 13/2026, the bail application filed by the appellant has been rejected against which the appellant has filed this appeal. 4. Learned counsel for the appellant submits that the appellant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the case. He further submits that the appellant surrendered himself before the police station Bilaigarh on 17.03.2026. He next submits that the police have not collected any evidence to connect the appellant with the aforesaid offence, and there is no evidence on record to suggest that the appellant committed the said offence. He lastly submits that the appellant has been in jail since 17.03.2026, and the trial is likely to take considerable time to be finalized, therefore, it is prayed that the appeal may be allowed and the appellant may be released on bail. 5. On the other hand, learned Counsel appearing for the State opposes the bail application and submits that there is sufficient evidence available on record against the Appellant, therefore, at this stage, the Appellant may not be granted bail. 6. Learned counsel appearing for the complainants opposes the submission made by learned counsel for the appellant and submits that considering the nature and gravity of offence, appellant should not be enlarged on bail. 7. I have heard learned Counsel appearing for the parties and perused the documents available on record. 8. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the overall material available on record, the nature and gravity of the offence, and also taking into account that the appellant has been in jail since 17.03.2026 and the trial is likely to take 3 considerable time to be finalized, without commenting on the merits of the case, this Court is inclined to release the appellant on bail. 9. Accordingly, the appeal is allowed and the impugned order dated 18.03.2026 passed by the learned Trial Court is set-aside. 10. It is directed that the appellant shall be released on bail on his executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs. 25,000/- with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of the Trial Court for his appearance before the said Court as and when directed. Sd/- (Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) Judge Sourabh P.