1 2026:CGHC:17245 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 1947 of 2026 Ishwar Chouhan S/o Late Indal Singh Aged About 37 Years R/o Aamapali, Post Bhichia And Police Station Baradwar, District Sakti, Chhattisgarh. --- Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Civil Line, District Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. --- Non-applicant MCRC No. 1976 of 2026 Ishwar Chouhan S/o Late Indal Singh Chouhan Aged About 37 Years Resident Of Aamapali, Post Bichhiya And Police Station Baradwar, District- Sakti (C.G.) ---Applicant Versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Civil Line, District Bilaspur (C.G.) --- Non-applicant MCRC No. 1979 of 2026 Ishwar Chouhan Son Of Late Indal Singh Aged About 37 Years Resident Of Aamapali, Post - Bhichia And Police Station Baradwar, District - Sakti, Chhattisgarh. ---Applicant Versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Civil Line, District - Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. --- Non-applicant PREETI KUMARI Digitally signed by PREETI KUMARI Date: 2026.04.16 11:38:51 +0530 2 MCRC No. 1948 of 2026 Ishwar Chouhan S/o Late Indal Singh Chouhan Aged About 37 Years R/o Aamapali, Post- Bichhiya And Police Station- Baradwar, District- Sakti (C.G.) ---Applicant Versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through - Station House Officer, Police Station Civil Line, District- Bilaspur (C.G.) --- Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Rahul Goswami, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Mr. Saumya Rai, Deputy Government Advocate. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 15.04.2026 1. Since the above-mentioned four bail applications arise out of same applicant, they are clubbed and heard together and are being disposed of by this common order. 2. 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 applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 1213/2024 (in MCRC No. 1947/2026), Crime No. 1210/2024 (in MCRC No. 1948/2026), Crime No. 1212/2024 (in MCRC No.1976/2026) and Crime No. 1211/2024 (in MCRC No. 1979/2026) registered at Police Station – Civil Line, District - Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2) and 111 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 3. Case of the prosecution in brief, is that the allegation against the applicant is that, along with co-accused persons, he cheated individuals by falsely promising employment as clerks in the Public Works Department and as G.D. Constables in the Police Department, as well as 3 jobs in the Jail Department as jail guards. In this regard, he allegedly collected several lakhs of rupees from various persons and issued fake appointment letters in their names. It is further alleged that fake appointment orders of the Public Works Department, Home Department, and the Government of Chhattisgarh, educational documents of unemployed youth, a fake daily attendance register related to the Labour Department, uniforms of the Jail Department, seals and stamps of the Forest Department, Women and Child Development Department, Labour Department, Water Resources Department, Home Department, and Health Department, as well as service books, along with cash amounting to Rs.10,50,000/- and other incriminating materials were seized from the applicant/accused. 4. In MCRC No. 1947/2026 - Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the case. He further submitted that the applicant has not withdrawn any amount which is seized by the police as alleged against the applicant. He further submitted that the co-accused Rajendra Palange has granted regular bail vide its order dated 08.08.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 189/2025 and co-accused Sanjay Das Manikpuri (Mahant) has granted regular bail vide its order dated 26.08.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 6725/2025 and co-accused Purushottam Tiwari has granted regular bail vide its order dated 17.09.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 6598/2025 and co-accused GuruShankar Divya has granted regular bail vide its order dated 09.09.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 7179/2025, co-accused Kapileshwar Puri Goswami has granted regular bail vide its order dated 06.10.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 7126/2025 and co-accused Rishi Nayak has been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 24.02.2026 passed in MCRC No. 327/2026. 5. In MCRC No. 1948/2026 – Learned counsel for the applicant submits 4 that in this crime, co-accused Rajendra Palange has granted regular bail vide its order dated 08.08.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 5962/2025 and co-accused Sanjay Das Manikpuri (Mahant) has granted regular bail vide its order dated 26.08.2025 in M.Cr.C 6715/2025 and co-accused GuruShankar Divya has granted regular bail vide its order dated 09.09.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 7169/2025 and co-accused Kapileshwar Puri Goswami has granted regular bail vide its order dated 06.10.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 7840/2025 and co-accused, namely, Rishi Nayak has been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 24.02.2026 passed in MCRC No. 266/2026. 6. In MCRC No. 1976/2026 – Learned counsel for the applicant submits that in this crime, co-accused Rajendra Palange has granted regular bail vide its order dated 08.08.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 5864/2025 and co-accused Sanjay Das Manikpuri (Mahant) has granted regular bail vide its order dated 26.08.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 6706/2025 and co-accused Purushottam Tiwari has granted regular bail vide its order dated 17.09.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 6632/2025 and co-accused GuruShankar Divya has granted regular bail vide its order dated 09.09.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 7160/2025 and co-accused Kapileshwar Puri Goswami has granted regular bail vide its order dated 06.10.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 7843/2025 and co-accused, namely, Rishi Nayak has been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 24.02.2026 passed in MCRC No. 259/2026. 7. In MCRC No. 1979/2026 – Learned counsel for the applicant submits that in this crime, co-accused Rajendra Palange has granted regular bail vide its order dated 14. 08.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 6233/2025 and co-accused Sanjay Das Manikpuri (Mahant) has granted regular bail vide its order dated 26.08.2025 in co-accused M.Cr.C 6728/2025 No. 5 and GuruShankar Divya has granted regular bail vide its order dated 09.09.2025 in M.Cr.C. No. 7155/2025 and co-accused Kapileshwar Puri Goswami has granted regular bail vide its order dated 06.10.2025 in M.Cr.C No. 7817/2025 and co-accused, namely, Rishi Nayak has been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 24.02.2026 passed in MCRC No. 268/2026. Further, the charge-sheet has been filed and he is in jail since 20.01.2026. Thus, looking to the above, it is prayed that the applicant may be enlarged on bail on the ground of parity. 8. On the other hand, learned State counsel appearing for the respondent/State opposes the bail application and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed, but could not dispute the fact that the co-accused persons have already been granted bail by this Court. 9. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the document available on record. 10. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the offence, and the allegations levelled against the applicant, and further considering that the charge-sheet has been filed before the competent Court and the applicant has been in custody since 20.01.2026, and also taking into account the fact that identically situated co-accused persons have already been granted bail by this Court in all four crime numbers, as explained in the submissions of learned counsel for the applicant, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in the present case on the ground of parity. 11. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed. Let the Applicant - Ishwar Chouhan involved in Crime No. 1213/2024 (in MCRC No. 1947/2026), Crime No. 1210/2024 (in MCRC No. 1948/2026), Crime No. 1212/2024 (in MCRC No.1976/2026) and Crime No. 1211/2024 (in 6 MCRC No. 1979/2026) registered at Police Station – Civil Line, District - Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2) and 111 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, 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 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 7 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. 12. Office is directed to send a copy of this order to the trial Court for necessary information and compliance forthwith. - Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Preeti