1 CGHC010264472026 2026:CGHC:33044 NAFR VAISHALI LUCKY HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPURNAGARIA Digitally signed by VAISHALI LUCKY NAGARIA Date: 2026.08.03 14:48:16 +0530 MCRC No. 6395 of 2026 • Ajay Rai S/o Shri Bhagirathi Rai Aged About 32 Years R/o Shivam City, Near Ekka Provision Stores, Saddu, Vidhan Sabha, Raipur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh. ... Applicant(s) versus • State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Khamhardih, Raipur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. T.K. Jha, Senior Advocate along with Mr. Parth Kumar Jha, Advocate. For Respondent(s) : Ms. Shailja Shukla, Government Advocate Hon'ble Shri Parth Prateem Sahu Order on Board 30.07.2026 1. Applicant has filed this fifth bail application under Section 483 of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 22/2021 registered at Police Station – Khamhardih, District- Raipur (C.G.) for offence punishable under Sections 302 read with Section 34, 450 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. 2. The prosecution's case, in brief, is that the applicant, along with co-accused Dr. Anand Rai and Deepak Kumar Saitode, committed murder of Neha Dhritlahre and her nine-year-old daughter, Ananya. On 30 January 2021, Neha was at home with Ananya. At about 12:30 2

p.m., she spoke to her younger sister, Megha Manhare, and requested her to come over and stay with Ananya while she went to the market, mentioning that she intended to visit her maternal home at Kharora. Later that evening Megha arrived and stayed with Ananya until about 4:00 p.m., after which Neha returned from the market and Megha left for her own home. At around 5:30 p.m., Megha repeatedly tried to contact Neha, but her mobile phone was switched off. On contacting the neighbours, she was informed that the front door of Neha's house was locked. Then Megha went to the house with her friend, Lawrence Masih. Finding the house locked and receiving no response, she forced to open the front door. Upon entering, Megha and Lawrence found co-accused Dr. Anand Rai and Deepak Kumar Saitode hiding in a storeroom. When questioned about the whereabouts of Neha and Ananya, they stated that the two had left with Ajay Roy.

3. Learned counsel for applicant would submit that applicant has been falsely implicated in the case, he has not committed any offence as alleged. He also submits that this fifth bail application filed by the applicant on the ground of delay in trial and after dismissal of the fourth bail application of the applicant by this Court, applicant has filed SLP before the Hon’ble Supreme Court which was disposed of vide order dated 21.02.2025, reserving liberty to the applicant herein to move a bail application after lapse of six months from today. He also contended that from the date of order passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, about one year and five months have already been lapsed, but the criminal case has not been disposed of, and therefore, this fifth bail application is filed seeking bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the submission made by learned counsel for applicant and further submits that from 3 the order impugned is reflecting that on 08.09.2025, only three witnesses were remaining to be examined, as of now all the witnesses might have been examined. This application is not filed against the order of rejection of bail application by Sessions Court vide order dated 08.09.2025. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary carefully.

6. When question is post to learned senior counsel for the applicant about the stage of the trial, he fairly submitted that according to the instructions, all the witnesses have been examined, statement of the accused persons have already been recorded and next date is fixed for final arguments on 05.08.2026. He also fairly submitted that this application is not filed against rejection of bail application be Sessions Court order dated 08.09.2025. 7. In above facts of the case, when the case is already fixed for final arguments, it will be decided within a short period of time, nature of allegations, facts of the case, I am not inclined to allow this bail application when the charges framed against the applicant under Sections 302 r/w Section 34 and 450, 120-B Indian Penal Code,1860, accordingly, the bail application of the applicant is dismissed. Certified copy as per rules. Sd/- (Parth Prateem Sahu) Judge Vaishali

1 CGHC010264472026 2026:CGHC:33044 NAFR VAISHALI LUCKY HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPURNAGARIA Digitally signed by VAISHALI LUCKY NAGARIA Date: 2026.08.03 14:48:16 +0530 MCRC No. 6395 of 2026 • Ajay Rai S/o Shri Bhagirathi Rai Aged About 32 Years R/o Shivam City, Near Ekka Provision Stores, Saddu, Vidhan Sabha, Raipur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh. ... Applicant(s) versus • State of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Khamhardih, Raipur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. T.K. Jha, Senior Advocate along with Mr. Parth Kumar Jha, Advocate. For Respondent(s) : Ms. Shailja Shukla, Government Advocate Hon'ble Shri Parth Prateem Sahu Order on Board 30.07.2026 1. Applicant has filed this fifth bail application under Section 483 of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 22/2021 registered at Police Station – Khamhardih, District- Raipur (C.G.) for offence punishable under Sections 302 read with Section 34, 450 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. 2. The prosecution's case, in brief, is that the applicant, along with co-accused Dr. Anand Rai and Deepak Kumar Saitode, committed murder of Neha Dhritlahre and her nine-year-old daughter, Ananya. On 30 January 2021, Neha was at home with Ananya. At about 12:30 2

p.m., she spoke to her younger sister, Megha Manhare, and requested her to come over and stay with Ananya while she went to the market, mentioning that she intended to visit her maternal home at Kharora. Later that evening Megha arrived and stayed with Ananya until about 4:00 p.m., after which Neha returned from the market and Megha left for her own home. At around 5:30 p.m., Megha repeatedly tried to contact Neha, but her mobile phone was switched off. On contacting the neighbours, she was informed that the front door of Neha's house was locked. Then Megha went to the house with her friend, Lawrence Masih. Finding the house locked and receiving no response, she forced to open the front door. Upon entering, Megha and Lawrence found co-accused Dr. Anand Rai and Deepak Kumar Saitode hiding in a storeroom. When questioned about the whereabouts of Neha and Ananya, they stated that the two had left with Ajay Roy.

3. Learned counsel for applicant would submit that applicant has been falsely implicated in the case, he has not committed any offence as alleged. He also submits that this fifth bail application filed by the applicant on the ground of delay in trial and after dismissal of the fourth bail application of the applicant by this Court, applicant has filed SLP before the Hon’ble Supreme Court which was disposed of vide order dated 21.02.2025, reserving liberty to the applicant herein to move a bail application after lapse of six months from today. He also contended that from the date of order passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, about one year and five months have already been lapsed, but the criminal case has not been disposed of, and therefore, this fifth bail application is filed seeking bail. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the submission made by learned counsel for applicant and further submits that from 3 the order impugned is reflecting that on 08.09.2025, only three witnesses were remaining to be examined, as of now all the witnesses might have been examined. This application is not filed against the order of rejection of bail application by Sessions Court vide order dated 08.09.2025. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary carefully.

6. When question is post to learned senior counsel for the applicant about the stage of the trial, he fairly submitted that according to the instructions, all the witnesses have been examined, statement of the accused persons have already been recorded and next date is fixed for final arguments on 05.08.2026. He also fairly submitted that this application is not filed against rejection of bail application be Sessions Court order dated 08.09.2025. 7. In above facts of the case, when the case is already fixed for final arguments, it will be decided within a short period of time, nature of allegations, facts of the case, I am not inclined to allow this bail application when the charges framed against the applicant under Sections 302 r/w Section 34 and 450, 120-B Indian Penal Code,1860, accordingly, the bail application of the applicant is dismissed. Certified copy as per rules. Sd/- (Parth Prateem Sahu) Judge Vaishali