1 2026:CGHC:19042 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 2612 of 2026 Brijesh Kumar Prajapati S/o Ambhira Prasad Aged About 23 Years R/o Village Lohari, Police Station Podi, District- Manendragarh- Chirmiri - Bharatpur (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police Of Police Station Baikunthpur, District- Koriya (C.G.) ... Respondent For Applicant : Shri Anil Kumar Gulati, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Shri Soumya Rai, Dy.G.A. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 24/04/2026 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.271/2025 registered at Police Station Baikunthpur, District Koriya (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 317(2), 317(4), 317(5) of Bhartiya Nayaya Sanhita. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that a letter was received with GOURI MUDALIAR Digitally signed by GOURI MUDALIAR Date: 2026.04.27 15:33:57 +0530 2 regard to the suspicious transaction in the account of applicant as from different-different states, the amount has been transferred in the account of the applicant and during the investigation, it was found that the account which was opened by the applicant used for the cyber fraud as the applicant provided his account details to other persons, subsequently the matter is being investigation by the police and the applicant has been arrested and the police filed the charge sheet alone against the applicant. Hence this bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is contended that the applicant had no knowledge that his bank account would be used for any cyber fraud, and he merely shared account details with other persons without being aware of their intentions. He further submits that although certain amount were deposited in the applicant’s account, the withdrawals were made by co-accused persons who were in possession of the ATM card, SIM, and account control. The applicant had only opened the account on inducement and received a small consideration, which does not establish his involvement in the alleged offence. He would submit that charge sheet has been filed, the applicant is in jail since 15/11/2025 and conclusion of trial will take some time, therefore, he prays for grant of bail to the applicant. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and he would submit that in compliance of the Courts order dated 20/03/2026 the Investigating Officer has filed his personal affidavit wherein at para (iii) of the affidavit it has been stated that the above said Crime No. 271/2025 has been registered against the present 3 applicant pursuant to the letter dated 06.08.2025 sent by the office of Cyber Cell, Baikunthpur, District Koriya (CG) thereby mentioning that the Bank Account No. 60477719026 held by one Brijesh Kumar Prajapati, is a Mule Account established by the examination of transaction detail of the said account. As per the report of समन्वय पोर्ट ल, a compliant was received for the said account as acknowledgment No. 33702240008892, 33702240009315 and total amount of Rs.6,08,294/- has been deposited in the account of the present applicant/accused. It was identified that as many as 14 bank accounts in the Bank of Maharashtra, Baikunthpur branch, were being operated as 'Mule Accounts' as reported in the Joint Cyber Crime Coordination Team Management Information System operated by the Indian Crime Coordination Centre, and those accounts were utilized for cyber fraud across different states. The offence was registered against 14 account holders, including the present applicant Brijesh Kumar Prajapati & at para (viii) of the affidavit it has been stated that the transaction details for applicant's account (Account No. 60477719026) reflect a massive illegal transaction has been done, which is identified as money obtained through online fraud. He would submit that the applicant’s bank account was identified as a mule account used in cyber fraud and an amount of Rs.6,08,294/- was credited into his account from fraudulent transactions, and he is one of 14 account holders involved in routing such illegal funds across different states, therefore considering the nature and gravity of offence, the applicant is not entitled for grant of bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the materials 4 available on record. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, submission of learned counsel for the parties, materials available on record, considering the fact that the applicant’s bank account was identified as a mule account used in cyber fraud and an amount of Rs.6,08,294/- was credited into his account from fraudulent transactions and he is one of 14 account holders involved in routing such illegal funds across different states, thereby it is evident that the applicant was involved in organized crime and the modus operandi reflects a well-orchestrated and large-scale financial fraud committed through digital platforms, causing substantial monetary loss and public harm, thus involvement of the applicant in the alleged offence appears to be reasonable and such incidents are increasing rapidly, severely impacting not only the economy but also the banking system, hence, this Court does not find it to be a fit case to release the applicant on regular bail. 7. Accordingly, the bail application of applicant Brijesh Kumar Prajapati involved in Crime No.271/2025 registered at Police Station Baikunthpur, District Koriya (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 317(2), 317(4), 317(5) of Bhartiya Nayaya Sanhita, is rejected. 8. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information. - Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE gouri