1 2026:CGHC:3197-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR CRA No. 2639 of 2025 Bhikham Chandravanshi S/o Chatur Chandravanshi, Aged About 27 Years R/o Mohtara, P.S. Pandatarai, District Kabirdham (C.G.) ... Appellant versus State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Pipriya, District Kabirdham (C.G.) ... Respondent For Appellant : Mr. Pushpendra Kumar Patel, Advocate For Respondent : Mr. Shailendra Sharma, Panel Lawyer Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Ravindra Kumar Agrawal , Judge Order on Board Per Ramesh Sinha, C.J. 20.01.2026 1. Heard Mr. Pushpendra Kumar Patel, learned counsel for the appellant as well as Mr. Shailendra Sharma, learned Panel Lawyer, appearing for the State/respondent. 2. This criminal appeal under Section 21(4) of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 is directed against the order dated 29.11.2025 passed by the Special Judge (NIA Act), Rajnandgaon (C.G.) in Special Case No.07/2025 by which the appellant's application under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in ROHIT KUMAR CHANDRA Digitally signed by ROHIT KUMAR CHANDRA 2 connection with Crime No.255/2025, registered at Police Station Pipariya, District- Kabirdham (C.G.) for punishable under Sections 179, 180 of BNS, has been rejected. 3. According to the prosecution case, on 06.09.2025, at Police Station Pipariya on receiving information from the informant that a person was going from Raipur Bemetara towards Kawardha on motorcycle number CG-07-BM-8370 with the intention of spending fake notes. On verifying the above information, a person was seen coming from Raipur Bemetara towards Kawardha on a motorcycle. After stopping him and searching his clothes after taking his consent, 15 fake notes of Rs. 500 each, the motorcycle used in the incident and one Oppo company mobile were recovered from the possession of the applicant/accused Bhikham Chandravanshi in front of witnesses. As the accused was found to have committed the crime, crime number 255/2025 was registered against him at Police Station Pipariya. During the investigation, on the basis of memorandum statement and account transaction details of the applicant/accused, involvement of co-accused Lokesh Biswal was found and a charge sheet was presented against the accused, wherein case was registered as Special Case No. 07 of 2025. The appellant preferred an application U/s 483 of BNSS before the learned Special Judge (NIA Act), Rajnandgaon (C.G.), which has been rejected by the order dated 29.11.2025, against which, this criminal appeal has been filed. 3 4. Learned counsel for the appellant submits that the appellant has been falsely implicated in the instant case. He further submits that the prosecution has failed to establish his involvement in the alleged offense of circulating fake currency notes. The search and seizure conducted by the police were done without proper documentation or adherence to legal procedures, rendering the evidence inadmissible. Furthermore, the recovery of fake notes from the applicant does not prove his intent to use them for criminal purposes, and there is no direct evidence linking him to the circulation or production of counterfeit currency. He also submits that the involvement of co-accused Lokesh Biswal, based on a memorandum statement, is insufficient to implicate the present applicant, as it lacks independent corroboration. He lastly submits that the there is no criminal history of the appellant and he is in jail since 06.09.2025, the charge-sheet has already been filed and the trial is likely to take time, therefore, the impugned order is liable to be set aside and the appellant is entitled to be released on regular bail. 5. On the other hand, Mr. Shailendra Sharma, learned Panel Lawyer, appearing for the State/respondent opposed the appeal. 6. We have heard the learned appearing for the parties, considered their rival submissions made herein-above and also went through the records with utmost circumspection. 7. Considering the nature and gravity of the allegation levelled against the appellant, number of fake currency notes seized from 4 the appellant and further considering the fact that the appellant is in jail since 06.09.2025, the charge-sheet has already been filed and the trial is likely to take time, the impugned order dated 29.11.2025 passed by the Special Judge (NIA Act), Rajnandgaon (C.G.) in Special Case No.07/2025 is set-aside and the instant appeal is allowed. 8. Let appellant, Bhikham Chandravanshi, involved in Crime No.255/2025, registered at Police Station Pipariya, District- Kabirdham (C.G.) for punishable under Sections 179, 180 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 Special Judge, for his appearance as and when directed. 9. It is made clear that any observation made in this order is only for the purpose of deciding the application under Section 483 of the BNS and this Court has not made any observation on the merits of the matter and the trial Court shall decide the matter strictly as per material available on record without being influenced by any observation made in this order. Sd/- Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) (Ramesh Sinha) Judge Chief Justice Chandra