Regular bail granted on grounds of parity in land acquisition fraud and corruption case.

The applicant, Lakheshwar Prasad Kiran, filed a regular bail application following his arrest on February 11, 2026, in connection with Crime No. 30/2025.

The prosecution alleged that the applicant facilitated a fraudulent land acquisition scheme for the Raipur-Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor project where land already owned by the Government was sold back to the Government, and compensation was illegally disbursed to unauthorized persons, causing loss to the state exchequer.

The applicant contended he was falsely implicated, no recovery was pending from him, and that eight other co-accused persons had already been granted bail by the High Court.

1. Whether the applicant is entitled to the grant of regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, on the grounds of parity and the completion of the investigation.

Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which governs the power of the High Court to grant bail.

The principle of parity in criminal jurisprudence, whereby an accused may be granted bail if similarly situated co-accused persons have already been released.

Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and Section 7(C) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The Court observed that while the applicant and other co-accused were involved in the same alleged crime, several co-accused (Shashikant Kurre, Smt. Basanti Dhritlahrey, et al.) had been granted bail between July 2025 and April 2026.

The Court noted that the applicant's case was identical to those who had already been released.

The Court took into account that the charge-sheet had already been filed, the applicant had no prior criminal record, and he had been in custody since February 11, 2026; given that the trial was expected to take considerable time, the Court reasoned that continued incarceration was unnecessary.

The applicant was ordered to be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond with two sureties, subject to specific conditions: (i) no seeking of unnecessary adjournments; (ii) mandatory presence at trial dates under penalty of Section 269 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS); (iii) liability under Section 209 BNS for non-appearance; and (iv) personal appearance for framing of charges and recording of statements under Section 351 BNSS.