Anticipatory bail to co-accused, coupled with completed investigation and no criminal antecedents, justifies regular bail.

The applicant, Virendra Jatav, an Assistant Statistical Officer, was arrested in connection with Crime No. 64/2025 for offenses under Sections 7(C) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B of IPC, 1860.

He is accused of abusing his official position by allegedly colluding with co-accused persons from the Question Paper Printing Committee to provide leaked question papers for the Departmental Examination, 2024, to candidates, thereby collecting over Rs. 1 crore.

The investigation is complete, and a charge-sheet has been filed.

The applicant's detention began on November 20, 2025.

Co-accused persons, Premlata Padmakar and Leena Dewangan, have already been granted anticipatory bail by the High Court via orders dated January 22, 2026, in MCRCA No. 1971/2025 and MCRCA No. 48/2026, respectively.

The applicant has no prior criminal antecedents.

The application was filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for regular bail.

The court considered the established principles for granting bail, including the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of the offence, the period of detention, the completion of the investigation, the filing of the charge-sheet, the grant of anticipatory bail to co-accused, and the absence of criminal antecedents of the applicant.

The court considered the gravity of the alleged offenses, including corruption and criminal conspiracy related to departmental examination paper leaks.

However, it noted that the investigation was complete, and the charge-sheet had been filed, suggesting that further custodial interrogation was not required.

A significant factor influencing the court's decision was the grant of anticipatory bail to co-accused Premlata Padmakar and Leena Dewangan by the same court.

The absence of any criminal antecedents for the applicant further supported the bail application.

The court explicitly stated that its decision was made "without commenting anything on the merits of the case," focusing instead on procedural and comparative aspects.

The applicant, Virendra Jatav, is to be released on bail for Crime No. 64/2025 on furnishing a personal bond with two sureties for a like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned court.

The bail is granted subject to conditions including an undertaking not to seek adjournments during witness testimony, mandatory presence in court, and provisions for action under Sections 269, 84, 209, and 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in case of default or abuse of liberty.