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Judgment
G. Satapathy, J.
Since these two bail applications arise out of one and same case record, the same are heard together and disposed of by this common order with the consent of the learned counsel for the parties.
These are the bail applications U/S.483 of BNSS by the petitioners for grant of bail in connection with Joda PS Case No.54 of 2026 corresponding to GR Case No.197 of 2026 pending in the file of learned JMFC, Barbil, for being charge-sheeted for commission of offences punishable U/Ss.318(4)/336(3)/61(2)/3(5) of BNS r/w Section 66-D of IT Act.
The allegation against the petitioners in gist is that they induced innocent and economic vulnerable persons to open up bank accounts in their respective names and after getting bank accounts opened up in the name of such persons, they used to collect the account credentials, such as Pass Books, ATM Cards, Cheque Books from them for handing it over to cyber fraudsters. They were also paying Rs.2,000/- to Rs.5,000/- to each account holder for opening up such account and handing over the credential to them. After collecting the accounts, the petitioners were allegedly sending it to one co-accused Gourav Kumar in lieu of payment of Rs.70,000/- to Rs.80,000/- for each bank account.
Heard, Mr. Amlan Mohanty, learned counsel for the petitioner in BLAPL No.2985 of 2026 and Mr. Mohammed Riaz, learned counsel for the petitioner in BLAPL No.6695 of 2026 and Mr. C. Mohanty, learned Addl. Public Prosecutor in the matter and perused the record.
After having considered the rival submissions and taking into consideration the nature and gravity of the offences as alleged against the petitioners vis-‡-vis the accusations sought to be brought against them and regard being had to the pre-trial detention of the petitioners in custody since 20.02.2026 with commencement of trial in the meantime and there being no criminal antecedent of similar nature reported against any of the petitioners and keeping in view the other circumstances on record in entirety including the inherent right of the accused-petitioners to be presumed innocent until proven guilty at the trial and the principal accused being Gourav Kumar of Calcutta, but no material being collected to suggest that the petitioners would abscond or pose threat to the witnesses, if released on bail, this Court without expressing any view on merits admits each of the petitioners to bail.
Hence, these two bail applications of the petitioners namely Ashish Kumar Das (In BLAPL No.2985 of 2026) and Sarfaraza Alam @ Sarfaraz Alam @ Sarfaraj Alam (In BLAPL No.6695 of 2026) are allowed and each of the petitioners is allowed to go on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand) with two solvent sureties each for the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Court in seisin of the case on such terms and conditions as deem fit and proper by it.
Accordingly, the BLAPL stands disposed of. A soft copy of this order be immediately communicated to the concerned Court, who shall afterwards communicate the same to the concerned Jail through e-mail for reference.