Chhattisgarh HC Grants Bail To Two Accused In Rs 1,04,80,000 Digital-Arrest Case, Citing Co-Accused’s Supreme Court Bail

In brief

The question

1. Whether the applicants should be granted regular bail, particularly on the ground of parity with co-accused Rupendra Singh, who had been granted bail by the Supreme Court.

The court held

The High Court allowed the bail application and directed that the applicants be released upon furnishing a personal bond of ₹50,000 each, with one surety in the like amount, to the satisfaction of the trial Court.

It also directed

The applicants must not induce, threaten or promise anything to persons acquainted with the case; must not act prejudicially to a fair and expeditious trial; and must attend every trial-court date until disposal of the case.

01Facts

The applicants were arrested in Crime No. 02/2026, registered for alleged offences under Sections 308(6), 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.

¶ 1

The prosecution alleged that the complainant’s mother was subjected to a “digital arrest” through impersonation and threats, and was induced to transfer ₹1,04,80,000 to various bank accounts. The applicants’ alleged involvement arose from financial transactions and routing of the funds.

¶ 2

They sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, relying on parity with co-accused Rupendra Singh, who had been granted bail by the Supreme Court after his bail application was rejected by the High Court.

¶ 3

The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged cyber fraud, but did not dispute that Rupendra Singh had been granted bail.

¶ 4

02Issues

i.1. Whether the applicants should be granted regular bail, particularly on the ground of parity with co-accused Rupendra Singh, who had been granted bail by the Supreme Court.

¶ 3–6

ii.2. Whether the filing of the charge-sheet, together with the circumstances of the case, supported release on bail.

¶ 6

03Law Applied

Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, provides the basis for the High Court’s consideration of an application for regular bail.

¶ 1

The Court considered the nature and gravity of the alleged offences, parity with a co-accused who had been granted bail, and the fact that the charge-sheet had been filed in deciding whether to grant bail.

¶ 6

Provisions in the judgment · 4 · Linked ones open on LawLens

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 Section 483

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 Section 308 Section 318 Section 3

04Reasoning

The Court acknowledged the seriousness of the alleged organised cyber fraud and the applicants’ alleged role in the financial transactions and routing of the proceeds.

¶ 2, 4

It nevertheless considered that co-accused Rupendra Singh had been granted bail by the Supreme Court, accepted the applicants’ submission that their case stood on a better footing, and noted that the charge-sheet had already been filed. On those circumstances, it found the ground of parity sufficient to grant bail, without expressing any view on the merits.

¶ 3–6