Chhattisgarh High Court

Bail granted considering detention period, charge sheet filing, and trial's likely duration.

SHAILESH SINGH CHOUHAN vs STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

Chhattisgarh High CourtJUDGMENT: March 13, 20262 MIN READSOURCE JUDGMENT
THE ORIGINAL LAWLENS SUMMARY
01

Facts

On November 26, 2025, Ashish Singh Thakur reported to the Police Station Torwa that his house had been burglarized on November 24, 2025, while he was away for his father-in-law's death.

Source reference: p.2

Gold and silver jewelry and ₹50,000/- cash were stolen.

Source reference: p.2

A case was registered under Sections 331(4) and 305(A) of the Indian Penal Code.

Source reference: p.2

The applicants, Shailesh Singh Chouhan and Kushal Pasi, were arrested in connection with the crime and have been in judicial custody since January 22, 2026.

Source reference: p.3

A charge sheet has been filed.

Source reference: p.3

The prosecution claims ₹5,000/- was seized from applicant No. 1 and ₹4,800/- from applicant No. 2.

Source reference: p.3

Applicant No. 1 has one criminal antecedent, and applicant No. 2 has four criminal antecedents.

Source reference: p.3-4
02

Issues

1. Whether the applicants are entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Source reference: p.1
03

Law Applied

The court considered Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) for grant of regular bail, weighing the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature of allegations, the period of detention, and the likelihood of the trial taking time for conclusion.

Source reference: p.1, p.4
04

Reasoning

The court considered the applicants' detention period since January 22, 2026, and acknowledged that a charge sheet had been filed.

Source reference: p.3-4

It also noted that the trial would likely take a considerable amount of time to conclude.

Source reference: p.4

Despite the State Counsel's opposition, citing the seizure of money from both applicants and their criminal antecedents, the court found these factors insufficient to deny bail given the prolonged detention and the expected delay in the trial.

Source reference: p.3-4

The court's reasoning aligns with the principle that bail should generally be granted when the trial is likely to be protracted, provided there are no compelling reasons for continued detention.

Source reference: p.4
05

Holding

The bail application is allowed.

Applicants, Shailesh Singh Chouhan and Kushal Pasi, involved in Crime No. 531/2025, are to be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond with two sureties each, to the satisfaction of the concerned court.

Source reference: p.5

The release is subject to several conditions, including not seeking adjournments during witness examination, ensuring presence in court, and not misusing the liberty of bail.

Source reference: p.5-6
Chhattisgarh High Court

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SHAILESH SINGH CHOUHANvsSTATE OF CHHATTISGARH

Chhattisgarh High Court · March 13, 2026

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