Chattisgarh High Court
Lokhan Ram Sori vs State Of Chhattisgarh on 24 March, 2026
Author: Ramesh Sinha
Bench: Ramesh Sinha
1
2026:CGHC:14129
NAFR
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
MCRC No. 2072 of 2026
Lokhan Ram Sori S/o Shriram Sori Aged About 33 Years Occupation-
Naukri, Sub- Tahsil- Jarhi, Ps- Bhatgaon Th- Pratappur District- Surajpur
(C.G.) Office- Address- Government Higher Secondary School Mani, Po-
Dedri, Tah- And Ps- Surajpur District- Surajpur (C.G.) ... Applicant
versus
State Of Chhattisgarh Through - Anti Corruption Bureau Ambikapur (C.G.)
...Non-applicant
For Applicant : Mr. Vikram Singh, Advocate
For Non-Applicant/State : Dr. Sourabh Pande, Dy. Advocate General.
VAIBHAV
SINGH
Digitally signed by
Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice
VAIBHAV SINGH
Date: 2026.03.25
12:10:33 +0530
Order on Board
24.03.2026
1.This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 68/2025 registered at Police Station - E.O.W./Anti Corruption Bureau Ambikapur (C.G.), for the offences punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
2. The prosecution story, in brief, is that complainant Ramesh Rajwade 2 submitted a written complainant to the Anti Corruption Bureau, Ambikapur, Stating that he resides in a mud house built on residential of his was land in the village of Koteya, Tahsil and Police Station of Pratappur, in the name grandmother, Mrs. Sumrita. This house damaged in the rains this year, and he applied for compensation at the Jarhi Sub-Tahsil. Present Applicant Lokhan Ram Sori posted at the Jarhi Sub-Tahsil office assured him that he would receive half the compensation amount, and then gave him Rs. 15,000/-. Meanwhile the accused told him to pay the remaining amount after it was credited to his account. After the compensation amount was credited to the complainant's account No. 7011515383 the accused repeatedly called him and demanded the remaining Rs. 25,000/-. Не wanted to catch the accused red-handed taking a bribe. The complaint was verified by the Anti Corruption Bureau Ambikapur, in which on confirmation of the demanded of bribe by the accused from the complainant, legal action taken and crime no. 68/2025 Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption ACT 1988 WILS against the registered Applicant/Accused. Charge Sheet was presented before the concerned court.
3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is an innocent person and has been falsely implicated in this offence. It is submitted that the applicant has been working as a peon at Government Higher Secondary School, Jarhi, District Surajpur for the past 13 years with an unblemished service record, and was subsequently directed by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDM), Pratappur to assist at the Nayab Tahsil, Jarhi due to administrative exigencies and heavy workload. It is further submitted that the applicant had no official dealing or pending work with the complainant and had neither 3 demanded nor accepted any illegal gratification at any point of time. The allegation of demand and acceptance of bribe is wholly false, baseless and motivated. The applicant has been in judicial custody since 16.12.2025, and continued incarceration would cause irreparable prejudice. The applicant undertakes to cooperate with the investigation/trial and abide by any conditions imposed by this Hon'ble Court. Therefore, it is most humbly prayed that this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to enlarge the applicant on bail.
4. On the other hand, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application of the present applicant and submits that the charge-sheet has already been filed in the present case.
5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary.
6. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of allegation levelled against the applicant and the fact that the applicant has no previous antecedents and also considering the fact that the charge-sheet has been filed and he has been in jail since 22.12.2025 and conclusion of the trial is likely to take some time, therefore, I am inclined to grant regular bail to the present applicant.
7. Let the Applicant - Lokhan Ram Sori, involved in Crime No. 68/2025 registered at Police Station - E.O.W./Anti Corruption Bureau Ambikapur (C.G.), for the offences punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, be released on bail on his furnishing personal bond with two local sureties in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- 4
(i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law.
(ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against his under Section 269 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
(iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence, proclamation under Section 84 of BNSS. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
(iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 351 of BNSS. If in the opinion of the trial court absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against him in accordance with law.
8. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith.
Sd/-
(Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Vaibhav