Rishabh Raj vs State Of Chhattisgarh

Since all these bail applications are the first bail application of the respective applicants, arising out of similar incidents registered at Police Station Ganj, Raipur Commissionerate, District- Raipur, though under different offences, they are being heard and decided by this common order.

The relevant particulars with respect to each applicant in the bail applications are as under:

As per the prosecution case, on 25.03.2026, on receipt of secret information through mobile that an illegal call centre was being operated from the second and third floors of Pithalia Complex, Subhash Nagar, within the jurisdiction of the concerned Police Station, wherein U.S.-based citizens were being contacted on the pretext of providing loans, improving credit scores and facilitating easy loans and were thereby cheated and made to part with huge amounts, the police party along with staff and witnesses proceeded to the spot. Upon reaching there, several persons were found working on computers and laptops inside the premises. It is alleged that the applicants, along with other associates, were involved in running the said call centre under the name and style of Rockland Business Solution Private Limited. It is further alleged that accused persons, including Vikas Narendra Shukla and Sanjay Sharma, residents of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, had entered into rent agreements with the operator of Pithalia Complex and were operating the call centre by using computers, laptops, internet calling systems, headsets and other electronic devices. They allegedly generated forged cheques in the accounts of U.S. citizens, obtained money through banks pursuant thereto and as part of an organised criminal conspiracy, committed cheating and also threatened the victims with digital arrest and issued forged arrest warrants. It is further alleged that applicant Anil Kumar Yadav @ Rohit was working as a Director of Rockland Business Solution Private Limited and had executed the lease agreement in respect of the third floor of Pithalia Complex, whereas applicant Vikas Narendra Shukla is alleged to be one of the persons involved in running the said call centre. Applicant Rishabh, applicant Nitesh Gurung and applicant Saurabh Rajput are also alleged to have been associated with the operation of the said call centre along with other participants. During investigation, 53 mobile phones, 17 laptops and 18 computer sets allegedly used in the commission of the offence were seized. The seized mobile phones and CPUs were sent for forensic examination and the relevant hard disks have been placed on record in sealed condition along with printouts of forged documents, cheques, loan agreements/contracts and arrest warrants. On completion of investigation, charge-sheet has been filed for offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2) and 112(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Mr. Hari Agarwal, learned counsel for the applicants would submit that the applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. He would further submit that the alleged call centre was established and run by the main co-accused persons and the applicants have neither knowingly participated in any alleged cyber fraud activity nor derived any direct unlawful benefit therefrom. He would further submit that similarly situated co-accused persons, namely, Om Kodvale, Shivam Pandey and Mohammad Gufaran Hussain, have already been granted bail by a Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in MCRC No. 8083 of 2026, vide order dated 01.09.2026. He would further submit that the applicants are in jail since 25.03.2026 and conclusion of the trial is likely to take some more time. Therefore, he prays for grant of bail to the applicants on the ground of parity.

On the other hand, learned State counsel would oppose the prayer for grant of bail and submit that the applicants are alleged to have been associated with an organised call centre being operated for committing cyber fraud against U.S.-based citizens by inducing them on the pretext of loans and thereafter obtaining money through fraudulent means and threatening them with digital arrest by using forged arrest warrants. He would further submit that applicant Anil Kumar Yadav @ Rohit is alleged to have been working as a Director of Rockland Business Solution Private Limited and had executed the lease agreement in respect of the third floor of the premises, while the other applicants are also alleged to have participated in the operation of the said call centre. However, learned State counsel could not dispute the fact that the similarly situated co-accused persons, namely, Om Kodvale, Shivam Pandey and Mohammad Gufaran Hussain, have already been enlarged on bail by this Court in MCRC No. 8083 of 2026, vide order dated 01.09.2026.

I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary and material available on record.

Having considered the facts and circumstances of the case, nature and gravity of the offence alleged against the applicants and further the fact that charge-sheet has already been filed before the competent Court and the applicants are in jail since 25.03.2026 and particularly the fact that the co-accused persons have already been enlarged on bail by a Coordinate Bench of this Court in MCRC No. 8083 of 2026, vide order dated 01.09.2026, this Court is of the considered view that the applicants are also entitled to the benefit of parity. Hence, I am also inclined to grant bail to the applicants on the ground of parity.

Accordingly, the bail applications of the applicants are allowed. It is directed that in the event of the applicants executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/- with one surety each in the like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court, they shall be released on bail on the following conditions:-