Anticipatory bail granted where sole evidence is uncorroborated memorandum statement of co-accused without supporting digital evidence.

On January 6, 2026, police conducted a raid in Vyapar Vihar, Bilaspur, based on a tip regarding online cricket gambling.

They arrested Ayush Agrawal, whose interrogation and seized mobile phone data allegedly implicated the applicant, Prakash Panjwani, as an associate in the gambling syndicate

WhatsApp chats were recovered from co-accused Ayush and another individual, Shanky Saluja

The applicant, apprehending arrest for offenses under Section 7(2) of the Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Section 112 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, moved the High Court for anticipatory bail after being named in the memorandum statement of the co-accused

Whether the applicant is entitled to anticipatory bail when the primary evidence against him is a memorandum statement of a co-accused, unsupported by corroborating digital evidence

Section 7(2) of The Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Section 112 of the BNS, 2023

the absence of incriminating material beyond a co-accused's statement and the lack of criminal antecedents are significant factors for granting relief

The Court observed that the prosecution's case against the applicant relied almost exclusively on the memorandum statement of co-accused Ayush Agrawal

Upon reviewing the Cyber Cell report dated March 12, 2026, the Court found that the applicant's name did not appear in any WhatsApp chats retrieved from the arrested co-accused; instead, the chats referred to a "Rohit Panjwani"

The Court further noted that the applicant had no prior criminal record and that the other co-accused, Ayush Agrawal and Shanky Saluja, had already been released on regular bail by the Sessions Court

Since no direct incriminating material or digital trail connected the applicant to the online gambling syndicate at this stage, the Court determined that custodial interrogation was not warranted

It held that in the event of arrest, the applicant shall be released on a personal bond of Rs. 25,000 with one surety of the like sum

The relief was made subject to conditions, including that the applicant must cooperate with the interrogation as required, refrain from influencing witnesses, and appear before the trial court on all scheduled dates