Chattisgarh High Court
Praveen Tiwari vs State Of Chhattisgarh on 10 March, 2026
Author: Ramesh Sinha
Bench: Ramesh Sinha
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2026:CGHC:11429
NAFR
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
MCRCA No. 375 of 2026
GOURI
MUDALIAR
Praveen Tiwari, Aged About 44 Years S/o S.K. Tiwari R/o - H No.236/18, Virat
Digitally signed
by GOURI Nagar, Behind Kadam Plaza, Street No. 01, Durg, Chhattisgarh.
MUDALIAR
Date: 2026.03.11
11:26:16 +0530 ... Applicant
versus
State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station - Civil Lines, Raipur, District -
Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
... Respondent
For Applicant : Shri Tushar Dhar Diwan, Advocate.
For : Ms. Anusha Naik, Dy.G.A.
Respondent/State
Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice
Order on Board
10/03/2026
1. This first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the applicant, who is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.225/2022 registered at Police Station - Civil Lines Raipur, District Raipur (C.G) for the offences punishable under Section 420 and 468 of the Indian Penal Code.
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2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that that the complainant lodged an FIR which relates to a recruitment process for the post of Sub-Engineer conducted in the year 2011. Regarding the said recruitment, it has been alleged that the applicant, while filling in the OMR form, marked "yes" in the columns relating to minimum educational qualification and registration with the employment office, whereas according to the prosecution, he did not possess the required qualifications as of the cut-off date i.e. 23.03.2011. Later, in 2022, in compliance with the order dated 09.08.2021 of the JMFC, Raipur, an FIR was filed by the police. The committee constituted upon receiving the complaint found that the advertisement was vague and that neither the applicant nor the appointing authority exhibited any malicious intent. Despite this, the present offence was registered against 89 candidates related to the recruitment process, in which the applicant has also been made an accused, due to which he has become apprehensive of arrest.
3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is completely innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. He would submit that the alleged recruitment process dates back to the year 2011, whereas the FIR has been lodged in the year 2022 with an inordinate and unexplained delay of about 11 years, which makes the prosecution story prima facie doubtful. He would submit that the appointment of the applicant was made by the competent and authorized authority following due procedure and the departmental enquiry clearly found that the advertisement was vague and neither the applicant nor the appointing authority had any malafide intention. He would submit that in similar facts and circumstances, the co-accused persons have been granted anticipatory bail by this Court in MCRCA 3 No.1293/2025 on 26/08/2025, in MCRCA No. 1460/2025 on 23/09/2025, in MCRCA No. 1486 of 2025 on 24/09/2025 and total 64 persons have already granted bail out of 73 accused. He would submit that the applicant is a permanent resident of address shown in the cause title of the bail application and undertakes to cooperate with the investigation, therefore, he submits that the present applicant is entitled to be released on anticipatory bail.
4. On the other hand, learned State counsel, appearing for the non -
applicant/State, opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail but do not dispute the fact that the co-accused persons have been granted anticipatory bail by this Court.
5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the materials available on record.
6. Considering the facts & circumstances of the case, submission of learned counsel for the parties, considering the fact that co-accused persons have been granted anticipatory bail by this Court in MCRCA No.1293/2025 on 26/08/2025, in MCRCA No. 1460/2025 on 23/09/2025, in MCRCA No.1486 of 2025 on 24/09/2025, without commenting anything on the merits of the case, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the present applicant.
7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant - Praveen Tiwari, on executing a personal bond and one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the arresting Officer, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:-
(a) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any 4 inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such fact to the Court.
(b) The applicant shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial.
(c) The applicant shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial.
(d) The applicant and the surety shall submit a copy of his adhaar card along with a coloured postcard full size photo having printed the adhaar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court.
(e) The applicant shall not involve himself in any offence of similar nature in future.
Sd/-
(Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice gouri