Anticipatory Bail Granted to Private Computer Operator Alleged of Assisting Main Accused in Forging Warehouse Records

The applicant, a 25-year-old private computer operator, sought anticipatory bail regarding or regarding Crime No. 22/2026 at P.S. Majholi.

The prosecution alleges that an inspection of Shreeji Warehouse revealed that the in-charge (Ratnesh Bhatt) and a computer operator (Aman Sen) made false entries of 14934.50 quintals of food grains on an online portal without physical stock verification.

The applicant is accused of assisting these individuals in data entry.

The applicant contended he was not an employee of the warehouse and was implicated solely on suspicion.

It was noted that the main accused, Ratnesh Bhatt, had already been granted anticipatory bail by the Supreme Court.

1. Whether the applicant is entitled to the protection of anticipatory bail under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, considering the nature of the accusation and his role in the alleged forgery.

2. Whether the custodial interrogation of the applicant is necessary for the investigation given that relevant seizures have already been made.

The court primarily applied Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which governs the grant of anticipatory bail.

Underlying penal provisions under Sections 316(2), 316(5), 318(4), 238, and 61(2)/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The legal principle applied was that anticipatory bail may be granted where there is no risk of the accused fleeing from justice, tampering with evidence, or where incarceration would cause undue social disrepute without being necessary for investigation.

The court observed that the applicant is a young professional with no prior criminal record.

The court noted that the primary investigation is based on stock verification and online entries, much of which has already been processed through seizures.

The court found substance in the argument that the applicant was not an official employee and that his role was secondary.

Applying the principle of parity, the court considered that the principal accused had already secured bail from the Apex Court.

The court reasoned that given the applicant's socio-economic status and lack of criminal antecedents, there was no likelihood of him influencing witnesses or fleeing, and thus his incarceration during the investigation was deemed unnecessary.

The court directed that in the event of arrest, the applicant be released on a personal bond of Rs. 50,000/- with one solvent surety of the same amount, subject to conditions including cooperation with the investigation and non-tampering of evidence.

The order remains effective until the conclusion of the trial.