1 2026:CGHC:12697 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 387 of 2026 • Amit Kumar Sahu S/o Shri Dilip Kumar Sahu Aged About 23 Years R/o Sahu Para, Keshurwahdih Mungeli, District Mungeli Chhattisgarh ... Applicant(s) versus • State of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station- Sarkanda, District- Bilaspur Chhattisgarh ... Respondent(s) (Cause title is taken from Case Information System) For Applicant(s) : Ms. Upasna Mehta, Advocate appeared through Video Conferencing and Ms. Veethika Choubey, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Ms. Ritika Verma, Panel Lawyer Hon’ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 17/03/2026 1. This is First anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.155/2026 registered at Police Station - Sarkanda District- Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Sections 669, 351(3) of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, for short-BNS, 2023. 2. Prosecution case in brief is that F.I.R. has been lodged by the complainant/victim on 05.02.2026 that the applicant has committed sexual assault on the pretext of marriage as from 7.10.2024 to VAISHALI LUCKY NAGARIA Digitally signed by VAISHALI LUCKY NAGARIA Date: 2026.03.18 17:15:44 +0530 2 15.08.2025 stating that the victim and applicant came in to contact through the social media instagram and it has been further stated by the victim that the applicant had asked to change their friendship in the strong friendship and for that they have to enter in to physical relation and the applicant has taken the victim to the different hotels and had established relation. When victim asked the applicant for marriage, he denied. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and he has falsely been implicated in the present case. She further submits applicant and victim known to each other since 2024 through social media and victim is a major girl and consenting party. Further more investigation and trial are likely to take time, therefore, he submits that the present applicant is entitled to be released on anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposed the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail and submits that as per the statement recorded under Section 183 of BNS of the victim, wherein she deposed that victim and applicant came in to contact through the instagram and applicant had asked to change their friendship in the strong friendship and for that they have to enter in to physical relation and the applicant has taken the victim to the different hotels and the applicant made forcibly had physical relations with her from 2024 to 2025 and threatened to defame her, when she proposed marriage to him, he refused, citing his caste, thereafter, she filed an FIR against him. Therefore, the present anticipatory bail application of the applicant is liable to be rejected. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 3 6. Considering the facts & circumstances of the case, gravity of offence, submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, the allegations levelled against the applicant, statement recorded under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and this is a case of sexual exploitation of a girl on the pretext of marriage, as such, I am not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant. 7. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant– Amit Kumar Sahu, filed under Section 482 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 involved in Crime No.155/2026 registered at Police Station - Sarkanda District- Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Sections 669, 351(3) of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, for short-BNS, 2023 is rejected. 8. Needless to say that the trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed and conclude the trial expeditiously. 9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice vaishali