1 2026:CGHC:8110 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 1596 of 2026 Kulvant Singh Chhabda S/o Hardip Singh Chhabda Aged About 21 Years R/o Ambedkar Ward No. 3, Ambagarh Chowki, District Rajnandgaon Chhattisgarh (Detail Of The Applicant Has Not Mentioned In Annexure A-1) ... Applicant(s) versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Civil Line Raipur, District Raipur Chhattisgarh ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Ms. Khushbu Sahu, Advocate. For Respondent(s) : Mr. S.S. Baghel, G.A. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 13/02/2026 1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 44/2025 registered at Police Station AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN Digitally signed by AKHILESH KUMAR DEWANGAN 2 Civil Line Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 3(5), 317(2), 317(4) and 317(5) of BNS. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the accused, in connivance with other co-accused persons, committed an organized cyber fraud. It is alleged that approximately 104 bank accounts were fraudulently opened in Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, Civil Lines Branch, Raipur, and SIM cards were issued without the knowledge of the complainant. These bank accounts and SIM cards were allegedly used to receive and transfer the proceeds of cyber fraud. The accused is alleged to have actively participated in facilitating the diversion and movement of the cheated amount along with other co-accused persons, which led to the registration of alleged offence against the applicant. Hence, the bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has not committed any offence, only on the basis of mere suspicion, present applicant has been falsely implicated in the offence in question. She further submits that four of the identically situated co-accused persons, namely, Harmeet Singh @ Yashmit, Saurabh Pal, Tanishq Singh Bhatia and Shubham Singh Thakur have already been granted bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide common order dated 19.11.2025 in SLP Nos.15006/2025, 12849/2025, 15613/2025 and 17452/2025 and thereafter, on the ground of parity, several other co-accused persons have also 3 been granted bail by this Court. The applicant is in jail since 19.02.2025, the applicant has no criminal antecedent, charge- sheet has been filed and the trial is likely to take some time for its conclusion. Therefore, she prays for grant of bail to the applicant on the ground of parity. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed in the present case. He further submits that the applicant allegedly, in connivance with other co-accused persons, fraudulently opened about 104 bank accounts and arranged SIM cards without the complainant’s knowledge, and used them to receive and transfer money obtained through cyber fraud, thereby facilitating the diversion of cheated funds, therefore, the applicant is not entitled for grant of 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 applicant since 05.09.2023, the fact that though the applicant allegedly, in connivance with other co-accused persons, fraudulently opened about 104 bank accounts and arranged SIM cards without the complainant’s knowledge, and used them to receive and transfer money obtained through cyber fraud, but considering the fact that four of the co-accused persons, namely, Harmeet Singh @ 4 Yashmit, Saurabh Pal, Tanishq Singh Bhatia and Shubham Singh Thakur have already been granted bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide common order dated 19.11.2025 in SLP Nos.15006/2025, 12849/2025, 15613/2025 and 17452/2025, thereafter on the ground of parity, several other co-accused persons have also been granted bail by this Court and the case of present applicant is identical to that of the aforesaid co-accused persons, further considering the fact that the applicant has no criminal antecedent and charge-sheet has been filed in the present case, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case. 7. Accordingly, the application is allowed. 8. Let the Applicant-Kulvant Singh Chhabda, involved in Crime No. 44/2025 registered at Police Station Civil Line Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 3(5), 317(2), 317(4) and 317(5) of BNS, be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond with two sureties in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he 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 applicant shall remain present before the trial 5 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 him under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. (iv) The applicant 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 applicant is 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 him 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/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Akhil