ANURAG SHARMA vs STATE OF CHHATTISGARH
- Court
- Chhattisgarh High Court
- Case type
- MISC. CRIMINAL CASE
- Decided on
- 28-02-2026
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2026:CGHC:10564
NAFR
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
MCRC No. 974 of 2026
Anurag Sharma S/o Arun Sharma Aged About 28 Years R/o Ward No. 12
V.T.C. Colony, Charcha, Police Station Charcha, District - Koriya (C.G.)
... Applicant
versus
State Of Chhattisgarh Through - Police Station Baikunthpur, District - Koriya
(C.G.)
... Respondent
For Applicant : Ms. Anshu Ratre, Advocate.
For
: Ms. Anusha Naik, Dy.G.A.
Respondent/State
Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice
Order on Board
28/02/2026
1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular
bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime
No.218/2025 registered at Police Station Baikunthpur, Distt. Koriya
(C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 317(2), 317(4),
317(5) of B.N.S.
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2. Case of prosecution, in brief, is that on a letter received from the office
of the Inspector General of Police, SIV/CCTNS/Cyber Crime, Police
Headquarters, Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, directing legal action against
the listed account holders of mule accounts at Axis Bank, ICICI Bank,
and UCO Bank, Baikunthpur branch—whose accounts were used for
cyber fraud—the Police Station Baikunthpur registered Crime No.
218/2025 against the applicant/accused Anurag Sharma and 14 other
account holders. After completion of the investigation, a charge sheet
has been filed for offences punishable under Sections 111, 317(2),
317(4), and 317(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). In the said
case, the accused/applicant Anurag Sharma was arrested on
25.07.2025.
3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent
and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is submitted that
the investigation has not revealed any evidence to show that the
amount allegedly transferred to the applicant’s bank account was ever
utilized by him, nor is there any material to establish his involvement in
the alleged online fraud. The applicant has not made any transaction
from his account in relation to the alleged offence and has no
connection with any illegal transaction. It is further submitted that the
bank documents and SIM allegedly linked with the offence were lost
and appear to have been misused by unknown persons, making the
applicant himself a victim in the matter. She would submit that the
charge sheet has been filed in this case, the applicant is in jail since
25/07/2025 and conclusion of trial will take some time, therefore, she
prays for grant of bail to the applicant.
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4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application
and she would submit that charge sheet has been filed in this case
before the competent court. She would submit that in compliance of the
Court’s order dated 29/01/2026 the Investigating Officer has filed his
personal affidavit in the matter. She would further submit that bail
application of the co-accused namely Ravishankar Yadav has been
rejected by this Court in MCRC No.8263/2025 on 05/12/2025,
therefore the applicant is not entitled to be released on bail.
5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case
diary.
6. The relevant portion of the personal affidavit filed by the concerned
Investigating Officer reads as under:-
“8.That, during investigation, the present accused applicant
opened a bank account in exchange of money and gave his bank
passbook and ATM Card to another person for illegal transactions.
As evidence of the crime was found in the case, the accused was
arrested through an arrest warrant and the family members of the
accused were informed about his arrest. In this case, the arrest of
one named absconding accused account holder and the accused
who used the bank accounts is pending. The investigation in the
case is going on and at this stage of the case, if the accused gets
bail, it will affect the case.
16.That, during investigation, it was revealed that, in the aforesaid
Bank Account Number 360505001257 of ICICI Bank, Branch at
Baikunthpur, District Korea belongs to the present Accused
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Applicant, the total amount of Rs.30,85,120/- was credited and the
total amount of Rs.30,85,120 was debited into the said bank
account.
19.That, during investigation, it was revealed that, in the aforesaid
Bank Account Number 24803211087526 of UCO Bank, Branch at
Baikunthpur, District Korea belongs to the present Accused
Applicant, the total amount of Rs.38,22,547/- was credited and the
total amount of Rs. 36,12,493.72 was debited into the said bank
account.”
7. From perusal of the affidavit filed by the Investigating Officer, it goes to
show that the applicant opened bank accounts in exchange for money
and knowingly handed over his bank passbook and ATM card to
another person for carrying out illegal transactions and substantial
amounts were transacted through the bank accounts belonging to the
applicant, in ICICI Bank Account No. 360505001257, Branch
Baikunthpur, District Korea, a total sum of Rs.30,85,120/- was credited
and the same amount was debited, similarly, in UCO Bank Account No.
24803211087526, Branch Baikunthpur, District Korea, a total sum of
Rs.38,22,547/- was credited and Rs.36,12,493.72 was debited.
8. Considering the nature of allegation levelled against the applicant, it is
evident that the applicant was involved in organized crime and the
modus operandi reflects a well-orchestrated and large-scale financial
fraud committed through digital platforms, causing substantial
monetary loss and public harm, thus involvement of the applicant in the
alleged offence appears to be reasonable and such incidents are
increasing rapidly, severely impacting not only the economy but also
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the banking system, also considering the fact that bail application of
the co-accused namely Ravishankar Yadav has been rejected by this
Court in MCRC No.8263/2025 on 05/12/2025, hence, this Court does
not find it to be a fit case to release the applicant on regular bail.
9. Accordingly, the bail application of applicant Anurag Sharma involved
in Crime No.218/2025 registered at Police Station Baikunthpur, Distt.
Koriya (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 111, 317(2),
317(4), 317(5) of B.N.S, is rejected.
10. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court
concerned for necessary information.
- Sd/-
(Ramesh Sinha)
CHIEF JUSTICE
gouri