1 CGHC010362212026 2026:CGHC:43597 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 8785 of 2026 1 - Pradeep Soni S/o Sachin Soni Aged About 24 Years R/o Shanti Nagar, Musakhedi, Police Station Tilaknagar, District- Indore, Madhya Pradesh ... Applicant versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Sakri, District- Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Barun Kumar Mishra, Advocate For Non-applicant /State : Ms. Monika Thakur, P.L. Hon’ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey Order on Board 08/10/2026 1. The applicant has preferred this third bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail as he has been arrested in connection with 2 Crime No. 101/2025 registered at Police Station Sakri, District Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 305(a) and 331(4) of BNS. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that complainant Priyanshu Mishra lodged a report on 26.02.2025 stating that upon returning from Rewa, where he had gone with his family on 19.02.2025, he found the main door of his house and the almirah broken and noticed that cash of ₹30,000/- and jewellery valued at approximately 60,000/- were missing. Accordingly, an FIR was ₹ registered against unknown persons for the above-stated offence. During investigation, it was revealed that in connection with Crime No. 366/2024 registered at Police Station Pandri, District Raipur, the present applicant Pradeep Soni as well as co-accused persons Anil Bhuria and Sohbat Singh were arrested on 02.03.2025 and, in their memorandum statements, they disclosed about their involvement in the present offence. The stolen articles were thereafter recovered from their possession in connection with Crime No. 366/2024. Thereafter, three Crime Nos. i.e. 100/2025, 104/2025 and 101/2025 (present case) were registered against the accused persons at Police Station Sakri, District Bilaspur. Upon completion of investigation, charge-sheet was filed before the competent Court. 3. Mr. Vikram Pratap, learned counsel appearing for the applicant, would submit that the applicant is innocent and has falsely been 3 implicated in the present case. He would further submit that one more crime No. for commission of theft i.e. 366/2024 is pending against the applicant. He would lastly contend that the charge- sheet has already been filed and the applicant has been in judicial custody since 17/03/2025, and since the conclusion of the trial is likely to take considerable time, the applicant may be enlarged on regular bail. 4. On the other hand, Ms. Monika Thakur, learned counsel appearing for the non-applicant/State, would oppose the bail application and submit that the applicant has three criminal antecedents of similar nature (two crime Nos. pertaining to this case and one crime No. registered at Police Station Pandri, Raipur) which are still pending and as such, the applicant is a habitual offender. She would also submit that the first bail application preferred by the applicant was dismissed on merits vide order dated 29/08/2025 passed in MCRC No. 6115/2025 and other connected matters and his second bail application has also been dismissed on merits vide order dated 24/03/2026 passed by this Court in MCRC No. 2766 of 2026, thus, the applicant is not entitled to be released on bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Having considered the facts and circumstances of the case particularly considering that three FIRs bearing No. 100/2025, 4 101/2025 and 104/2025 were registered against the applicant on the same date on the basis of memorandum of co-accused persons and one case i.e. Crime No. 366/2024 registered against the applicant is though pending, but considering that applicant has been released on bail in that case and further considering that charge-sheet has been filed and the applicant is in jail since 17/03/2025, without commenting on the merits of the case, I am inclined to grant bail to the applicant. Accordingly, the bail application filed by the applicant is hereby allowed. 7. It is directed that in the event of the applicant executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court, he shall be released on bail, on following conditions :- (i) he 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) he shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial, and (iii) he shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial. 8. The observation made hereinabove is for the purpose of deciding 5 this bail application only, the trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits. Sd/- (Rakesh Mohan Pandey) JUDGE Harneet