1 2026:CGHC:2297 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 74 of 2026 Shubham Kumar Kurre S/o Neelaram Kurre Aged About 23 Years R/o Village - Bagdabri, Ward No. 02, Police Station Baloda, District Janjgir- Champa Chhattisgarh ...Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police Station Hirri, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh ...Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Kamlesh Kumar Pandey, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Mr. Vinod Kumar Tekam, Government Advocate. Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order on Board 14.01.2026 1. This 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. 189/2025 registered at Police Station – Hirri District – Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Section 303(3) & 3(5) of the BNS. 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on August 8, 2025, the complainant, Ganga Sahu, filed a report at Hirri Police Station stating VAIBHAV SINGH Digitally signed by VAIBHAV SINGH Date: 2026.01.15 13:34:51 +0530 2 that on the night of August 8, 2025, at approximately 3:00 AM, he had parked his trailer truck, bearing registration number CG 30 H-2900, on the side of the Amsena service road due to it being nighttime and was sleeping in the cabin. He heard a noise outside the vehicle and looked out through the cabin window. He saw 2-3 people getting out of a white Scorpio vehicle, registration number CG 12 BP-6047. They broke the fuel tank cap of his trailer, inserted a pipe, and began siphoning diesel. He remained silently in the cabin out of fear. After they left, he got down and checked, finding that approximately 60-70 liters of diesel had been stolen from his trailer's fuel tank. Based on the complainant's information, a case was registered, and the Scorpio vehicle, registration number CG 12 BP-6047, was intercepted and apprehended. However, the occupants of the vehicle managed to escape. 3. Learned Counsel for the applicant submits that applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. He further submits, that the applicant had given his Scorpio vehicle to his friend, and a copy of the FIR has been annexed in support thereof. It is further submitted that the applicant is the sole earning member of his family and his prolonged pre-trial detention would seriously prejudice the livelihood of his family members. The applicant is also suffering from sickle cell disease and requires blood transfusion every 15 days, for which relevant medical documents have been duly annexed. The applicant undertakes to abide by all the terms and conditions that may be imposed by this Hon’ble Court while granting bail. He is a permanent resident of the address mentioned in the cause title, possesses movable and immovable properties, and there is no 3 likelihood of his absconding or tampering with prosecution witnesses. In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, therefore, he prays for grant of bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel appearing for the non- applicant/State opposes the bail application and submits that the applicant has one previous criminal antecedent, therefore, the applicant is not entitled to the grant of anticipatory bail. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 6. Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the allegations, and the material available in the case diary, it prima facie appears that the offence alleged against the applicant is serious in nature. The complainant has specifically stated that the accused persons, travelling in a Scorpio vehicle bearing registration number CG-12-BP-6047, were caught in the act of stealing diesel from his trailer during the intervening night of 08.08.2025. The case diary further reveals that the investigation is at an initial stage and, as per the report of the Station House Officer, Hirin, all the accused persons are absconding since the registration of the offence, having abandoned the said vehicle at the spot. It is also noted that incidents involving organized gangs indulging in theft of diesel and petrol from vehicles parked on highways are on the rise, which adds to the seriousness of the offence. In these circumstances, this Court is of the considered view that granting anticipatory bail at this stage may adversely affect a fair and effective investigation. Therefore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations, the conduct of 4 the accused, this is not a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail. Accordingly, the application is rejected. 7. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant – Shubham Kumar Kurre, involved in Crime No. 189/2025 registered at Police Station – Hirri District – Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offences punishable under Section 303(3) & 3(5) of the BNS, is rejected. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE vaibhav