1 2026:CGHC:8141 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 1012 of 2026 1 - Ishwar S/o Kishun Yadav, aged about 38 years, R/o Village Trishuli, Police Station Sanaval, District - Balrampur - Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh. 2 - Pradeep Singh S/o Ramchalitar ( Correct Name Is Ramcharitar Singh ) aged about 23 years, R/o Village Trishuli, Police Station Sanaval, District - Balrampur - Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh. 3 - Devnath S/o Ramkrit Yadav, aged about 40 years, R/o Village Trishuli, Police Station Sanaval, District - Balrampur - Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh. ---Applicants Versus State of Chhattisgarh, through Forest Range Dhamni, District Balrampur - Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh. --- Non-Applicant MCRC No. 1244 of 2026 1 - Jitendra Pando S/o Ramaotar Pando, Aged About 28 Years R/o Village Trishuli, P/s Sanawal, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.) 2 - Arun Yadav, S/o Shivnarayan Yadav, Aged About 25 Years R/o Village Trishuli, P/s Sanawal, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.) 3 - Sunil Pando, S/o Rajeshwar Pando, Aged About 21 Years R/o Village Trishuli, P/s Sanawal, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.) 4 - Santosh Pando, S/o Lallu Pando, Aged About 30 Years R/o Village Trishuli, P/s Sanawal, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.) 5 - Ramkumar Pando, S/o Jagarnath Aged About 38 Years R/o Village Trishuli, P/s Sanawal, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.) Digitally signed by RAVVA UTTEJ KUMAR RAJU 2 6 - Jaipal Pando, S/o Bhuneshwar Pando, Aged About 51 Years R/o Village Trishuli, P/s Sanawal, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.) ---Applicants Versus State of Chhattisgarh Through The Forest Range- Dhamni, District Balrampur Ramanujganj C.G. --- Respondent/State For Respective Applicants : Mr. Rahul Mishra and Mr. Siddharth Pandey, Advocates. For State/Respondent : Ms. Ritika Verma, PL Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 13/02/2026 1. These are the first bail applications filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular bail to the applicants who have been arrested in connection with Crime No. 22003/2012 registered at Police Station- Forest Range Dhamni, District- Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 9, 50, 51,52, 39(2) of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 16.12.2025, information was received that one Lallu Pando was found dead near his house, after which the police recovered blood stained wooden pieces, a bat, a knife, and other articles from the house of Shanichari Pando. On questioning, it was stated that these articles were used for cutting meat of wild boar, which was hunted earlier. Thereafter, the Forest Department seized all the recovered articles and also found some hair and pieces of wild boar meat from the house, which were kept for forensic examination. Further, bloodstained plastic material and G.T. 3 wire of 100 metres in two bundles were recovered near the house of Shanichari Pando. The applicants were taken into custody, their memorandum statements were recorded and thereafter they were arrested in connection with the present offence. Hence, the bail applications. 3. Learned counsel for the respective applicants submit that the applicants have not committed any offence, only on the basis of mere suspicion, present applicants have been falsely implicated in the offence in question. The allegations leveled against the present applicants are sketchy, and no recovery or incriminating article has been seized from the possession of the applicants and the applicants have neither hunted the alleged wild animal nor traded in, possessed or transported any prohibited wildlife article. The applicants are in jail since 19.12.2025 and 05.01.2026 respectively, the applicants have no criminal antecedents, charge-sheet has been filed and the trial is likely to take some time for its conclusion. Therefore, they pray for grant of bail to the applicants. 4. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for the State/non- applicant would oppose the bail applications and submit that the charge- sheet has been led in the present case before the competent Court, however they have no previous criminal antecedents. She further submits that the oence alleged is serious in nature and relates to violation of the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which has been enacted with the object of protecting and preserving wildlife and maintaining ecological balance. The oence has serious repercussions not only on wildlife but also on the environment and public interest at large. Therefore, the applicants are not entitled for grant of 4 bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of offence, period of detention of the applicants since 19.12.2025 and 05.01.2026 respectively, further considering the fact that the applicants have no previous criminal antecedents and charge-sheet has been filed in the present case, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case and considering the totality of facts and circumstances, this Court is of the view that the applicants are entitled to be released on bail in this case. 7. Accordingly, the bail applications of the applicants are allowed. 8. Let the applicants involved in Crime No. 22003/2012 registered at Police Station- Forest Range Dhamni, District- Balrampur- Ramanujganj (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 9, 50, 51,52, 39(2) of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, be released on bail on their furnishing a personal bond with two sureties each in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) 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. (ii) The applicants shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through their counsel. In case of their absence, without sufficient 5 cause, the trial court may proceed against them under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicants misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure their presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicants fail 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. (iv) 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. 9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance. Sd/- Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE U.K. Raju