1 2026:CGHC:2230 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 472 of 2026 Edward Thomas S/o Rajesh Thomas Aged About 21 Years R/o B/146, Basant Vihar Lingyadih, P.S. Sarkanda, Bilaspur Chhattisgarh ... Applicant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station - Sarkanda, District - Bilaspur Chhattisgarh ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Vivek Sharma, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Mr. Priyank Rathi, Govt. Advocate. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 14.01.2026 1. This is the 5rst bail application 5led under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 1014/2025 registered at Police Station Sarkanda, District Bilaspur (C.G.), for the o:ences punishable under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 338, 340(2), and 61(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. The case of the prosecution is that on 19.06.2025, the applicant/accused visited the bank of the complainant and presented cheque No. 00053 for an amount of Rs. 70,00,000/- for encashment at the branch. After routine veri5cation, the payment was made, and the amount was transferred to ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Digitally signed by ABHISHEK SHRIVAS Date: 2026.01.16 12:14:00 +0530 2 the bank account of the applicant. Thereafter, the director of the company, Astrotalk Services Private Limited, which maintains a current account at HDFC Bank, Branch Gurgaon, submitted a written complaint to the Gurgaon Branch alleging that a total amount of Rs. 1,40,40,000/- had been fraudulently withdrawn from the company’s account through seven forged cheques. A separate complaint was also made in regard to cheque No. 00053, dated 19.06.2025, for Rs. 70,00,000/-. The Branch forwarded the complaint to the Sarkanda Branch, from which it was found that an amount of Rs. 70,00,000/- had been fraudulently withdrawn by presentation of a forged cheque from HDFC Bank, Sarkanda Branch. It was further found that cheque No. 00053 was in the possession of the account holder, and the cheque presented for encashment was forged. 3. On investigation, it was revealed that several persons were involved and that the amount of Rs. 70,00,000/- was credited to bank account No. 50100620127637 of the applicant, which was later withdrawn by him. Accordingly, the Branch Manager of HDFC Bank, Sarkanda Branch, lodged a written complaint against the applicant/accused. On the basis of the same, Police Station Sarkanda registered Crime No. 1014/2025 for o:ences under Sections 318(4), 338, 340, 336(3), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 4. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the present applicant is an innocent person and has been falsely implicated in the aforesaid case. He further submits that the applicant has no criminal antecedents. He also submits that the other co-accused persons, namely Aarti Yadav and Sonal Khunte, vide order dated 19.11.2025 passed in MCRC No. 8407 of 2025 and MCRC No. 8613 of 2025, have already been granted regular bail by this Court. It is further submitted that another co-accused, namely Ritesh Kesharwani, has also been granted regular bail by the concerned 3 trial Court. Copies of the said orders have been annexed with the present bail application. Therefore, it is submitted that the present applicant is also entitled to be released on regular bail on the ground of parity. 5. On the other hand learned State counsel opposes the bail application of the present applicant and submits that the charge-sheet has already been submitted in the present case. 6. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 7. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, particularly that the co-accused persons, namely Aarti Yadav and Sonal Khunte, have already been granted regular bail by this Court vide order dated 19.11.2025 passed in MCRC No. 8407 of 2025 and MCRC No. 8613 of 2025, and that another co-accused, namely Ritesh Kesharwani, has also been granted regular bail by the concerned trial Court, further considering that the charge-sheet has already been 5led before the competent Court, that the applicant has been in jail since 27.07.2025, and that the conclusion of the trial may take considerable time, this Court is of the view that the present applicant is entitled to be released on bail on the ground of parity. 8. Let the Applicant – Edward Thomas, involved in Crime No. 1014/2025 registered at Police Station Sarkanda, District Bilaspur (C.G.), for the o:ences punishable under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 338, 340(2), and 61(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, be released on bail on his furnishing personal bond with two sureties in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) The applicant shall 5le an undertaking to the e:ect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates 5xed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case 4 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 court on each date 5xed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without suDcient 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 5xed 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 5xed 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 suDcient 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. ODce is directed to send a certi5ed copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. - Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Abhishek