1 Digitally signed by AKHILESH AKHILESH BEOHAR BEOHAR Date: 2026.07.20 17:04:43 +0530 CGHC010187842026 2026:CGHC:30705 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 4513 of 2026 1. Pomesh, S/o Jitendra, aged about 27 Years, 2. Yogesh, S/o Jitendra, aged about 25 Years, Both are R/o Ward No. 1 Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Police Station Bhatapara, District Balodabazar, Chhattisgarh. ---Applicants versus • State of Chhattisgarh, Through SHO, PS Jarhagaon, District Mungeli, Chhattisgarh. --- Non-applicant MCRC No. 5727 of 2026 • Saurabh Dhuri, S/o Rajesh Dhuri, aged about 19 Years, R/o Ward No. 10, Barela, Police Station Jarhagaon, District- Mungeli (C.G.) ---Applicant Versus • State of Chhattisgarh, Through Station House Officer, Jarhagaon, District- Mungeli (C.G.) ---Non-applicant MCRC No. 5704 of 2026 • Vikas Patel, S/o Late Ramkumar Patel, aged about 22 Years, R/o Ward No. 07, Barela, Police Station- Jarhagaon, District- Mungeli (C.G.) ---Applicant Versus • State of Chhattisgarh, Through Station House Officer Jarhagaon, District- Mungeli (C.G.) 2 ---Non-applicant MCRC No. 4984 of 2026 • Sonu Ram Sahu, S/o Koduram, aged about 45 Years, R/o Village Ghoghra, Thana- Nandghat, District- Bemetara (C.G.) (Mentioned Sonu Ram in some pages of Order Sheet) ---Applicant Versus • State of Chhattisgarh, Through Station House Officer Jarhagaon, District- Mungeli (C.G.) --- Non-applicant MCRC No. 4996 of 2026

• Manish Sahu, S/o Shiv Sahu, aged about 22 Years, R/o Ward No. 13, Barela, Police Station -Jarhagaon, District Mungeli C.G. ---Applicant Versus • State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Jarhagaon- District Mungeli C.G. ---Non-applicant MCRC No. 4528 of 2026 • Santosh Sahu, S/o Latel Sahu, aged about 56 Years, R/o Ward No. 13, Barela, P.S. Jarhagaon, Distt. Mungeli, Chhattisgarh. ---Applicant Versus • State of Chhattisgarh, Through Police Station Jarhagaon, Distt. Mungeli, Chhattisgarh. --- Non-applicant For Respective Applicants : Dr. (Mr.) Arpit Lall, Mr. Ankur Diwan, Mr. Vikhyat Arora, Ms. Indrapreet Kaur Chhabra and Ms Soni Mishra, Advocates. For State : Mr. Dharmesh Shrivastava, Deputy Advocate General and Ms. Supriya Upasane, Government Advocate. For Objector : Ms. Anamika Tiwari, Advocate. 3 (Hon’ble Shri Justice Radhakishan Agrawal) Order on Board 20/07/2026 1. Since all the above-captioned bail applications arise out of the same Crime No. 194/2025 registered at Police Station Jarhagaon, District Mungeli (C.G.), they are being heard together and disposed of by this common order.

2. These are the first bail applications filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (in short, “BNSS”), for grant of regular bail to the applicants, who have been arrested in connection with Crime No. 194/2025 registered at Police Station Jarhagaon, District Mungeli (C.G.), for the offences punishable under Sections 140(1), 103(2), 61(2)(a) and 238(1) of the BNS. 3. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 26.12.2025, information was received regarding the death of one Rajkumar Dhuri, who had allegedly sustained fatal head injuries as a result of an assault. During the course of investigation, it was revealed that there existed a land dispute between the deceased and the accused persons, who were allegedly pressurizing him to sell his land. It is further alleged that the accused persons, along with other co-accused, kidnapped the deceased from near PNB, Barela, wrongfully confined him, and brutally assaulted him, as a result of which, he succumbed to the injuries sustained. On the basis of the report lodged in this regard, the aforesaid offence has been registered against the applicant. 4. MCRC No. 4513 of 2026 & MCRC No.4984 of 2026 :- Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that the 4

applicants are charged under Section 249 of the BNS by the trial Court, which is a bailable offence. The applicants are in custody since 27.12.2025, and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take considerable time. Therefore, it is prayed that the applicants be released on bail. 5. MCRC No.4528 of 2026, MCRC No.4996 of 2026, MCRC No.5704 of 2026 and MCRC No.5727 of 2026:- Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that the applicants have not committed the alleged offence and that their names are not specifically mentioned in the FIR. It is also submitted that there is no eye-witness to the incident and the case is based on circumstantial evidence. In MCRC No. 4528 of 2026, learned counsel for the applicant- Santosh Sahu further submits that no memorandum or seizure has been made from the present applicant and that he has been implicated solely on the basis of the statement of co-accused- Sonu. On these grounds, it is prayed that the applicants be released on bail.

6. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State as well as the Objector oppose the bail applications and submits that as per the memorandum statements of the accused persons, namely Manish Sahu, Vikas Patel and Sourabh Dhuri, along with other co-accused, a wooden stick, an axe, a motorcycle, blood-stained clothes and other articles have been seized, which prima facie indicate the involvement of the applicants in the crime in question. It is further submitted that as per the statement of the father of the deceased, applicant- Santosh Sahu was also involved in the commission of the offence. It is alleged that the deceased- Rajkumar Dhuri was kidnapped by the applicants on account of the existing land dispute between the parties, which provided the motive for the offence 5 and thereafter he was murdered. Therefore, it is contended that the applicants are not entitled to be released on bail. 7. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties. MCRC No. 4513 of 2026 & MCRC No.4984 of 2026 8. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the detention period of the applicants and further considering the fact that the offence / charge framed by the trial Court under Section 249 of the BNS is bailable in nature, without commenting on the merits of the case, this Court is inclined to release the applicants on bail.

9. Accordingly, the applications (MCRC No. 4513 of 2026 & MCRC No.4984 of 2026) is allowed and it is directed that the applicants- Pomesh, Yogesh and Sonu Ram Sahu shall be released on bail on their furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.20,000/- each with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court. Applicants are also directed to appear before the concerned trial Court on each and every date to be given to them by the said Court till disposal of the trial. It is made clear that any observation made by this Court in this order shall not affect the trial of the case. MCRC No.4528 of 2026, MCRC No.4996 of 2026, MCRC No.5704 of 2026 and MCRC No.5727 of 2026 10. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the offence and the material available on record, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the applicants, namely Santosh Sahu, Manish Sahu, Vikas Patel and Saurabh Dhuri. 11. Accordingly, the bail applications, i.e., MCRC No. 4528 of 2026, MCRC 6 No. 4996 of 2026, MCRC No. 5704 of 2026 and MCRC No. 5727 of 2026, stand rejected. 12. Resultantly: (i) MCRC No. 4513 of 2026 and MCRC No. 4984 of 2026 are allowed. (ii) MCRC No. 4528 of 2026, MCRC No. 4996 of 2026, MCRC No. 5704 of 2026 and MCRC No. 5727 of 2026 are rejected. 13. Registry is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Radhakishan Agrawal)

Judge Akhilesh

1 Digitally signed by AKHILESH AKHILESH BEOHAR BEOHAR Date: 2026.07.20 17:04:43 +0530 CGHC010187842026 2026:CGHC:30705 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 4513 of 2026 1. Pomesh, S/o Jitendra, aged about 27 Years, 2. Yogesh, S/o Jitendra, aged about 25 Years, Both are R/o Ward No. 1 Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Police Station Bhatapara, District Balodabazar, Chhattisgarh. ---Applicants versus • State of Chhattisgarh, Through SHO, PS Jarhagaon, District Mungeli, Chhattisgarh. --- Non-applicant MCRC No. 5727 of 2026 • Saurabh Dhuri, S/o Rajesh Dhuri, aged about 19 Years, R/o Ward No. 10, Barela, Police Station Jarhagaon, District- Mungeli (C.G.) ---Applicant Versus • State of Chhattisgarh, Through Station House Officer, Jarhagaon, District- Mungeli (C.G.) ---Non-applicant MCRC No. 5704 of 2026 • Vikas Patel, S/o Late Ramkumar Patel, aged about 22 Years, R/o Ward No. 07, Barela, Police Station- Jarhagaon, District- Mungeli (C.G.) ---Applicant Versus • State of Chhattisgarh, Through Station House Officer Jarhagaon, District- Mungeli (C.G.) 2 ---Non-applicant MCRC No. 4984 of 2026 • Sonu Ram Sahu, S/o Koduram, aged about 45 Years, R/o Village Ghoghra, Thana- Nandghat, District- Bemetara (C.G.) (Mentioned Sonu Ram in some pages of Order Sheet) ---Applicant Versus • State of Chhattisgarh, Through Station House Officer Jarhagaon, District- Mungeli (C.G.) --- Non-applicant MCRC No. 4996 of 2026

• Manish Sahu, S/o Shiv Sahu, aged about 22 Years, R/o Ward No. 13, Barela, Police Station -Jarhagaon, District Mungeli C.G. ---Applicant Versus • State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Jarhagaon- District Mungeli C.G. ---Non-applicant MCRC No. 4528 of 2026 • Santosh Sahu, S/o Latel Sahu, aged about 56 Years, R/o Ward No. 13, Barela, P.S. Jarhagaon, Distt. Mungeli, Chhattisgarh. ---Applicant Versus • State of Chhattisgarh, Through Police Station Jarhagaon, Distt. Mungeli, Chhattisgarh. --- Non-applicant For Respective Applicants : Dr. (Mr.) Arpit Lall, Mr. Ankur Diwan, Mr. Vikhyat Arora, Ms. Indrapreet Kaur Chhabra and Ms Soni Mishra, Advocates. For State : Mr. Dharmesh Shrivastava, Deputy Advocate General and Ms. Supriya Upasane, Government Advocate. For Objector : Ms. Anamika Tiwari, Advocate. 3 (Hon’ble Shri Justice Radhakishan Agrawal) Order on Board 20/07/2026 1. Since all the above-captioned bail applications arise out of the same Crime No. 194/2025 registered at Police Station Jarhagaon, District Mungeli (C.G.), they are being heard together and disposed of by this common order.

2. These are the first bail applications filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (in short, “BNSS”), for grant of regular bail to the applicants, who have been arrested in connection with Crime No. 194/2025 registered at Police Station Jarhagaon, District Mungeli (C.G.), for the offences punishable under Sections 140(1), 103(2), 61(2)(a) and 238(1) of the BNS. 3. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 26.12.2025, information was received regarding the death of one Rajkumar Dhuri, who had allegedly sustained fatal head injuries as a result of an assault. During the course of investigation, it was revealed that there existed a land dispute between the deceased and the accused persons, who were allegedly pressurizing him to sell his land. It is further alleged that the accused persons, along with other co-accused, kidnapped the deceased from near PNB, Barela, wrongfully confined him, and brutally assaulted him, as a result of which, he succumbed to the injuries sustained. On the basis of the report lodged in this regard, the aforesaid offence has been registered against the applicant. 4. MCRC No. 4513 of 2026 & MCRC No.4984 of 2026 :- Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that the 4

applicants are charged under Section 249 of the BNS by the trial Court, which is a bailable offence. The applicants are in custody since 27.12.2025, and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take considerable time. Therefore, it is prayed that the applicants be released on bail. 5. MCRC No.4528 of 2026, MCRC No.4996 of 2026, MCRC No.5704 of 2026 and MCRC No.5727 of 2026:- Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that the applicants have not committed the alleged offence and that their names are not specifically mentioned in the FIR. It is also submitted that there is no eye-witness to the incident and the case is based on circumstantial evidence. In MCRC No. 4528 of 2026, learned counsel for the applicant- Santosh Sahu further submits that no memorandum or seizure has been made from the present applicant and that he has been implicated solely on the basis of the statement of co-accused- Sonu. On these grounds, it is prayed that the applicants be released on bail.

6. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State as well as the Objector oppose the bail applications and submits that as per the memorandum statements of the accused persons, namely Manish Sahu, Vikas Patel and Sourabh Dhuri, along with other co-accused, a wooden stick, an axe, a motorcycle, blood-stained clothes and other articles have been seized, which prima facie indicate the involvement of the applicants in the crime in question. It is further submitted that as per the statement of the father of the deceased, applicant- Santosh Sahu was also involved in the commission of the offence. It is alleged that the deceased- Rajkumar Dhuri was kidnapped by the applicants on account of the existing land dispute between the parties, which provided the motive for the offence 5 and thereafter he was murdered. Therefore, it is contended that the applicants are not entitled to be released on bail. 7. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties. MCRC No. 4513 of 2026 & MCRC No.4984 of 2026 8. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the detention period of the applicants and further considering the fact that the offence / charge framed by the trial Court under Section 249 of the BNS is bailable in nature, without commenting on the merits of the case, this Court is inclined to release the applicants on bail.

9. Accordingly, the applications (MCRC No. 4513 of 2026 & MCRC No.4984 of 2026) is allowed and it is directed that the applicants- Pomesh, Yogesh and Sonu Ram Sahu shall be released on bail on their furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.20,000/- each with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court. Applicants are also directed to appear before the concerned trial Court on each and every date to be given to them by the said Court till disposal of the trial. It is made clear that any observation made by this Court in this order shall not affect the trial of the case. MCRC No.4528 of 2026, MCRC No.4996 of 2026, MCRC No.5704 of 2026 and MCRC No.5727 of 2026 10. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the offence and the material available on record, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the applicants, namely Santosh Sahu, Manish Sahu, Vikas Patel and Saurabh Dhuri. 11. Accordingly, the bail applications, i.e., MCRC No. 4528 of 2026, MCRC 6 No. 4996 of 2026, MCRC No. 5704 of 2026 and MCRC No. 5727 of 2026, stand rejected. 12. Resultantly: (i) MCRC No. 4513 of 2026 and MCRC No. 4984 of 2026 are allowed. (ii) MCRC No. 4528 of 2026, MCRC No. 4996 of 2026, MCRC No. 5704 of 2026 and MCRC No. 5727 of 2026 are rejected. 13. Registry is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith. Sd/- (Radhakishan Agrawal)

Judge Akhilesh