Anticipatory bail granted for alleged paddy and money shortage, considering trial delay and conditions.

The applicant, Kushagra Pradhan, is apprehending arrest in connection with Crime No. 44/2026, registered at Police Station Basna, District Mahasamund, for an offence punishable under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

The prosecution's case is that on January 21, 2026, a physical verification by the SDM Pithora at the Paddy Procurement Centre, Jagdishpur, where the applicant was in-charge, revealed a shortage of 650 bags of paddy (260 quintals, valued at Rs. 6,15,940/-) and Rs. 1,90,060/- under the Kisan Unnati Yojana, totaling Rs. 8,60,000/-.

The applicant claimed to have a clean record with zero shortage history from his five years as Samiti Incharge.

A surprise inspection by the Collector, Mahasamund, on December 27, 2025, found no shortage.

The applicant alleged that his request for re-verification/recounting of stock by the SDM Pithora after the second inspection was denied, leading him to submit a written representation to the Collector on January 28, 2026.

He also stated that no recovery had been made from him, and the procurement center was under CCTV surveillance and secured with fencing.

Whether the applicant, Kushagra Pradhan, is entitled to anticipatory bail under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for the alleged offence under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

The court applied Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which pertains to the inherent power of the High Court to grant anticipatory bail.

The decision was guided by the judicial discretion to grant pre-arrest bail, considering the facts and circumstances of the case, submissions of the parties, and material on record.

The court considered the nature of the allegation against the applicant and the submissions made by both parties.

The applicant asserted that he was innocent, had been falsely implicated, and had a clean record with no prior shortages.

He highlighted that a previous inspection by the Collector found no discrepancy, and his request for re-verification after the SDM's inspection was denied.

The court also noted that no recovery had been made from the applicant's possession.

Crucially, the court recognized that the investigation and trial were likely to take a significant amount of time.

Without commenting on the merits of the case, the court determined that these factors warranted the grant of anticipatory bail.

It directed that in the event of arrest, the applicant, Kushagra Pradhan, shall be released on bail upon executing a personal bond and one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, subject to specific conditions.

These conditions included not inducing or threatening any person acquainted with the facts of the case, not acting prejudicially to a fair trial, appearing before the trial Court on all given dates, submitting Aadhaar card copies with photos for verification, and not involving himself in similar offenses in the future.