Facts
The applicants, Sameer Patel and Umesh Singh Kanwar @ Lachchhu, were arrested on 25.02.2026 in connection with Crime No. 89/2026 for the theft of six Nag Volt batteries valued at ₹27,000/- from a Toll Plaza office
Source reference: p. 2The prosecution’s case relies primarily on the memorandum statements of the applicants
Source reference: p. 2The applicants contended they were falsely implicated based on suspicion, no incriminating articles were seized from their possession, and the charge-sheet has already been filed
Source reference: p. 2-3They approached the High Court seeking regular bail under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
Source reference: no citationIssues
1. Whether the applicants are entitled to the grant of regular bail considering the nature of the allegations and their period of incarceration
Source reference: p. 3-4Law Applied
Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, regarding the grant of regular bail
Source reference: p. 1Sections 313(3), 305(1), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
Source reference: p. 1procedural safeguards and consequences for bail misuse under Sections 269 (non-appearance), 84 (proclamation for person absconding), 209 (non-appearance in response to proclamation), and 351 (recording of statement) of the BNS and BNSS
Source reference: p. 4-5Reasoning
the Court underscored that the investigation was substantially complete as the charge-sheet had already been filed
Source reference: p. 3It noted that the applicants had no prior criminal antecedents and had been in custody since February 2026
Source reference: p. 3The Court reasoned that since the trial is likely to take a significant amount of time to conclude, further pre-trial detention was unnecessary provided that strict conditions were imposed to ensure their presence during trial
Source reference: p. 3-4Holding
The Court held that the applicants are entitled to bail given the lack of criminal history and the filing of the charge-sheet
The High Court allowed the bail application, directing the release of the applicants upon furnishing personal bonds and two sureties each
Source reference: p. 4the applicants must not seek unnecessary adjournments, must appear at all critical trial stages—specifically charge framing and Section 351 BNSS statements—and warned that any default would trigger proceedings under Sections 209 and 269 of the BNS
Source reference: p. 4-5Original Court PDF
SAMEER PATELvsSTATE OF CHHATTISGARH
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