MICHAEL SAHU vs STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

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CGHC010295322026 2026:CGHC:38885
NAFR
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
MCRC No. 6946 of 2026
Michael Sahu S/o Khemlal Sahu, Aged About 26 Years, R/o Village- Jaijaipur,
Police Station- Jaijaipur, District- Sakti (C.G.)
... Applicant
versus
Digitally
signed by
PREETI
KUMARI
Date:
2026.09.02
17:05:50
+0530
State of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police Station,
PREETI
KUMARI
Champa, District- Janjgir-Champa (C.G.)
... Non-Applicant
For Applicant : Mr. Amit Singh Chauhan, Advocate.
For Non-Applicant/State : Mr. Sumit Singh, Deputy Advocate General.
Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice
Order on Board
02.09.2026
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. 365/2025 registered
at Police Station – Champa, District- Janjgir-Champa (C.G.) for the
offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5) and 111(1)
of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).
As per the prosecution case, in brief, it is alleged that a report
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regarding a cyber fraud involving an amount of Rs.1,30,92,073/- was
lodged at Police Station Champa, pursuant to which Crime
No.365/2025 was registered for the offences punishable under
Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5) and 111(1) of the B.N.S. During the

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course of investigation, the police arrested accused Balram Yadav @
Ballu, who allegedly admitted to having committed the cyber fraud with
the assistance of the present applicant and co-accused Harish Yadav
by opening a mule account in his name with ICICI Bank, Champa
Branch. On the basis of the said disclosure/admission, the police
arrested the accused persons, including the present applicant.
Learned counsel appearing for the applicant submits that the applicant
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is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is
further submitted that the charge-sheet has been submitted in this
case. It is further submitted that no amount has been transferred in the
bank account of the present applicant and he has not received any
money in his bank account. According to case of prosecution, the
fraud amount of Rs. 1,30,92,073/- was deposited in bank account No.
177405500454 holding in I.C.I.C.I. Bank and in the said bank account,
the mobile No. 8817389778 has been linked, though the said bank
account number and mobile number are not belonging to the present
applicant. He further submits that other co-accused, namely, Harish
Yadav has been granted bail by this Court vide order dated
28.02.2026 passed in MCRC No. 287/2026. He also submits that the
applicant has four previous criminal antecedents, out of which in one
case he has been acquitted and three cases are pending and the
applicant is in jail since 10.03.2026, and the conclusion of the trial
shall take quite long time. Therefore, he prays for grant of bail on the
ground of parity.
4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the bail application
and submits that the charge-sheet has been filed. He further submits
that during the course of investigation, it was found that, the mule bank
account number of ICICI Bank branch at Champa vide ICICI Bank

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Account No. 177405500454 was found in the name of the accused
Balram Yadav @ Ballu. In the aforesaid Bank Account number, the
Mobile Number 8085468467 is linked and registered by the present
accused applicant Michael Sahu and the same was being used by the
present accused applicant Michael Sahu in which, within a short span
of time, financial transactions of Rs. 1,30,92,073/- has been found to
be transacted illegally through cyber fraud/crime since its opening
date. Further, the applicant has four previous criminal antecedents, out
of which in one case he has already been acquitted and three cases
are pending. Considering the nature of the offence and the
circumstances in which it has been committed, it prima-facie appears
to be an organized crime carried out through cyber crime. Thus, it is an
organized cyber crime committed by the applicant and the co-accused
persons. As such, the bail application deserves to be rejected.
5. Learned State counsel further submits that the bail application of
another co-accused has already been rejected by this Court vide order
dated 10.07.2026 passed in MCRC No.4147/2026, whereas one of
the co-accused has been granted bail by this Court vide order dated
28.02.2026 passed in MCRC No.287/2026 on a different footing.
Therefore, the present applicant is not entitled to the benefit of parity,
and his bail application is liable to be rejected.
I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case
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diary.
7. In compliance of the Court’s order dated 31.07.2026, the Station
House Officer, Police Station – Champa, District – Janjgir-Champa and
the Investigating Officer of the subject Crime Number, has filed his
affidavit showing the incriminating evidence collected against the

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applicant during the course of investigation, which is quoted here as
under:
6. That, during the course of investigation, it was found that,
the mule bank account number of ICICI Bank branch at
Champa vide ICICI Bank Account No. 177405500454 was
found in the name of the accused Balram Yadav @ Ballu. In
the aforesaid Bank Account number, the Mobile Number
8085468467 is linked and registered by the present accused
applicant Michael Sahu and the same was being used by the
present accused applicant Michael Sahu in which, within a
short span of time, financial transactions of Rs. 1,30,92,073/-
has been found to be transacted illegally through cyber
fraud/crime since its opening date.
7. That, the various complainants have been made by the
various victims/complainants of the various States of the
Country regarding the online cyber fraud from their bank
accounts and the account has been found to be used to
receive the money from online cyber fraud in National Cyber
Crime Reporting Coordination Portal/1930 and there are total
123 online complaints, which is the part of the charge sheet,
hence, the crime was registered against the aforesaid mule
bank account holder/present accused taken into applicant and
the investigation was investigation.
8. That, thereafter, during investigation, the said accused
Balram Yadav @Ballu/aforesaid mule bank account holder
was summoned and questioned and his memorandum
statements was taken infront of the relevant witnesses wherein
he has categorically deposed that, he lives in Sanjay Nagar,
Jaijaipur and runs an egg cart at Dushera Maidan. In 2023, he
ran a shop called Rahul Cold Drink in the name of his younger
brother. At that time, his friend Harish Yadav told him that, his
shopsis too small, he has very few items and further to expand
his shop. Thereafter, he told about the present accused
applicant Michael Sahu, who has good connections with bank

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officials and can easily get him a loan in his shop's name.
Therefore, following the advice of Harish Yadav, he met the
present accused applicant Michael Sahu in June-July, 2023.
Then, the present accused applicant Michael Sahu introduced
one Sonu Kumar, a bank employee, then he went with him to
ICICI Bank at Champa and the said Sonu Kumar provided
another mobile number and has got opened the bank account
in the name of the aforesaid shop. Thereafter, the said Sonu
Kumar allured him to provide his bank account on rent, then
the said accused Balram Yadav @ Ballu rented the aforesaid
bank account to the present accused applicant Michel and the
present accused applicant Michael Sahu promised him to give
1% commission to the accused Balram Yadav @ Ballu on the
total transacted amount which was received through cyber
fraud. Initially, the said present accused applicant Michal Sahu
gave him Rs. 5000/- each for a few months and after that, he
stopped giving money to him.
9. That, during investigation, it was found that, a total amount
of Rs. 1,30,92,073/- has been credited in the aforesaid ICICI
Bank Account Number of the accused Balram Yadav @ Ballu
during the short span of time period since its opening from
09.02.2023.
8. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, allegations
levelled against the applicant in the FIR, and from the perusal of the
records available, it transpires that, during the course of investigation,
it was found that, the mule bank account number of ICICI Bank branch
at Champa vide ICICI Bank Account No. 177405500454 was found in
the name of the accused Balram Yadav @ Ballu. In the aforesaid Bank
Account number, the Mobile Number 8085468467 is linked and
registered by the present accused applicant Michael Sahu and the
same was being used by the present accused applicant Michael Sahu
in which, within a short span of time, financial transactions of

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Rs. 1,30,92,073/- has been found to be transacted illegally through
cyber fraud/crime since its opening date, further, the applicant has four
previous criminal antecedents, out of which in one case he has already
been acquitted and three cases are pending, also considering the
nature of the offence and the circumstances in which it has been
committed, it prima-facie appears to be an organized crime carried out
through cyber crime also considering the fact that the bail application
of another co-accused has already been rejected by this Court vide
order dated 10.07.2026 passed in MCRC No.4147/2026, whereas
one of the co-accused has been granted bail by this Court vide order
dated 28.02.2026 passed in MCRC No.287/2026 on a different
footing, therefore, the present applicant is not entitled to the benefit of
parity, and his bail application is liable to be rejected, thus, this Court is
of the opinion that it is not a fit case to enlarge the applicant on regular
bail.
Accordingly, this first bail application of applicant – Michael Sahu
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involved in Crime No. 365/2025 registered at Police Station –
Champa, District- Janjgir-Champa (C.G.) for the offence punishable
under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 317(5) and 111(1) of the Bharatiya
Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), is rejected .
Needless to say that the learned trial Court concerned is at liberty to
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proceed with the trial and conclude the same, expeditiously.
11. 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

Preeti