Grant of regular bail on the ground of parity for alleged insurance fraud under BNS.

The applicants filed first bail applications following their arrest on February 2, 2026, in connection with Crime No. 294/2025.

The prosecution alleged that the applicants, in connivance with officials and insurance agents, dishonestly obtained over ₹25 lakhs under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana (2024–2025).

It was alleged that they falsely claimed cultivation and loss of a chickpea crop on land where banana crops were actually grown.

The applicants contended they were falsely implicated without direct evidence of forgery and sought parity with a co-accused, Parmeshwar Sahu, who was previously granted bail.

1. Whether the applicants are entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, based on the principle of parity and the stage of the trial.

The Court considered the provisions for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

It applied the principle of parity in bail jurisprudence, referencing its own prior order in Parmeshwar Sahu v. State of Chhattisgarh (MCRC No. 3806/2026), which involved identical facts from the same incident.

The Court also noted the penal provisions under Sections 316(5), 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Section 269 of the BNS regarding non-attendance.

The Court analyzed the gravity of the allegations involving the fraudulent misappropriation of insurance funds against the specific circumstances of these applicants.

It observed that the applicants had no prior criminal record and had been incarcerated since February 2, 2026.

Critically, the Court found that the case against the present applicants was identical to that of co-accused Parmeshwar Sahu, who had already been released on bail.

Given that the charge-sheet had already been filed and the trial was expected to be protracted, the Court determined that the applicants satisfied the criteria for discretionary relief based on parity and the lack of a need for further custodial investigation.

The High Court allowed the bail applications. The applicants were ordered to be released on furnishing personal bonds and two sureties each, subject to conditions: they must not seek unnecessary adjournments, must attend all court proceedings under risk of Section 269 BNS proceedings, and must appear personally for framing of charges and recording of statements under Section 351 BNSS.