1 2026:CGHC:19672 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 2753 of 2026 • Kamleshwar S/o Preetpal Aged About 27 Years Caste Gond, R/o Jaliyadaand, Police Station Baikunthpur, District- Koriya (C.G.) ... Applicant(s) versus • State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Baikunthpur, District- Koriya (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) (Cause title is taken from Case Information System) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Sunil Verma, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Mr. Soumya Rai, Dy.G.A. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 28.04.2026 1. This is the First bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant arrested in connection with Crime No. 218/2025 registered at Police Station – Baikunthpur, District - Baikunthpur- Koriya (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 317(1), 371(2), 317(4) and 317(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). 2. The prosecution's case, in brief, is that the allegation against the applicant is that in his Axis Bank Branch, Baikunthpur account number 924010061880931, amounts obtained through online VAISHALI LUCKY NAGARIA Digitally signed by VAISHALI LUCKY NAGARIA Date: 2026.04.29 17:43:53 +0530 2 fraud (cheating) were received from different states. It is alleged that the applicant provided his bank account to the concerned offenders/gang for use in online fraud activities with the intention of earning illegal money. The case record also contains information provided by Axis Bank, Branch Baikunthpur, according to which in the account number 924010061880931 of the applicant a total amount of 2,22,871/- was credited, 2,22,419/- was debited, ₹ ₹ and 21,274/- has been frozen. The Police of police station ₹ Baikunthpur, District Koriya has registered the case for an offence punishable under Section 111, 317 (2), 317 (4), 317 (5) of B.N.S. against the applicant. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that the allegations against the applicant are based solely on certain bank transactions, without any direct evidence to demonstrate that the applicant himself committed the alleged cyber fraud or cheated the complainant. It is contended that the only imputation against the applicant is that certain amounts were credited to his bank account. However, the mere credit of money into a bank account, in the absence of any material indicating the applicant’s knowledge, intent, or active participation, does not establish his involvement in the alleged offence. He also submits that the charge-sheet has been submitted in this case and he is in jail since 07.08.2025, and the conclusion of the trial shall take quite long time. Therefore, he prays for grant of bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the bail application and submits that the bail application of two other co- accuses have also been rejected in MCRC No.8263 of 2025 and 3 MCRC No.974 of 2026 vide orders dated 05.12.2025 and 28.02.2026 respectively, As such, the bail application deserves to be rejected. 5. In compliance of the Courts’ order dated 24.03.2026, the Investigating Officer, Police Station – Baikunthpur, District – Korea (C.G.), has filed his additional affidavit disclosing the evidence collected against the applicant during the course of investigation. The relevant portion of the affidavit reads as under:- “10.That, during the course of investigation, the present accused applicant was summoned and interrogated regarding the incident and his memorandum statement has been recorded infront of the witnesses wherein, he has categorically deposed that, he has committed the aforesaid crime alongwith another co-accused by providing the bank accounts to the accused persons for online cyber crime. The accused has admitted in his statement that, he used to provide bank accounts to Anish Ravi, the accused in another case, for online cyber crime/fraud. 11.That, during investigation, 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. 12.That, during the course of the investigation, concrete evidence has been collected against the present his direct applicant, Kamleshwar, establishing involvement in facilitating online financial fraud, as the present accused applicant Kamleshwar, operates 4 an account in his own name in the Axis Bank, Baikunthpur branch, bearing Account No. 924010057308164.” 6. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary. 7. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of allegation levelled against the applicant and the fact that in compliance of the Courts’ order dated 24.03.2026, the Investigating Officer, Police Station – Baikunthpur, District – Korea (C.G.), has filed his additional affidavit disclosing the evidence collected against the applicant which has been mentioned above, from a perusal of the record, during investigation, 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 and, during the course of the investigation, concrete evidence has been collected against the present his direct applicant, Kamleshwar, establishing involvement in facilitating online financial fraud, as the present accused applicant Kamleshwar, operates an account in his own name in the Axis Bank, Baikunthpur branch, bearing Account No. 924010057308164, also considering the fact that the bail application of two other co-accuses have also been rejected in MCRC No.8263 of 2025 and MCRC No.974 of 2026 vide orders dated 05.12.2025 and 28.02.2026 respectively. Therefore, this 5 Court is of the opinion that it is not a fit case to enlarge the applicant on regular bail. 8. Accordingly, this first bail application of applicant – Kamleshwar involved in Crime No. 218/2025 registered at Police Station – Baikunthpur, District - Baikunthpur- Koriya (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 317(1), 371(2), 317(4) and 317(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), is rejected at this stage. 9. Needless to say that the learned trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed with the trial and conclude the same, expeditiously. 10. 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