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Judgment
G. Satapathy, J.
Since these three 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 Ainthapali PS Case No.47 of 2026 corresponding to GR Case No.388 of 2026 pending in the file of learned SDJM, Sambalpur, for commission of offences punishable U/Ss.318(4)/317(2)/61(2) of BNS r/w Sections 66(C)/66(D) of IT Act.
The background facts in this case are that during verification relating to 14 complaints as per National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), the complainant Chudamani Mahanand, the SI of Police, Ainthapali PS, Dist-Sambalpur found the accounts stood in the name of the petitioners to have been used for illegal transaction of ill-gotten money and he, thereby, lodged an FIR. In the course of investigation, the petitioners Sumanta Munda, Niral Bhengra @ Niraj, Amit Aind and Bijaya Kak were taken into custody, but on interrogation, it is found that one Rudra Prasad Tripathy had induced them to open up mule accounts and, accordingly, they had opened up mule accounts and handed over the credentials of such accounts to said Rudra Prasad Tripathy and it is, accordingly, found that the account numbers of the petitioners have been used for commission of online cyber fraud. On completion of investigation, charge-sheet has already been submitted in this case and the petitioners being unsuccessful in securing liberty before the concerned Sessions Court are before this Court in these present bail applications.
Heard, Mr. Kaustuva Mohanty, learned counsel for the petitioner in BLAPL No.6451 of 2026; Mr. Rakesh Kumar Das, learned counsel for the petitioner in BLAPL No.5761 of 2026; Mr. Debadatta Pradhan, learned counsel appearing virtually for the petitioner in BLAPL No.5838 of 2026 and Mr. R.B. Mishra, learned Additional Public Prosecutor in the matter and perused the record together with the written instruction as provided.
After having considered the rival submissions upon perusal of record, no doubt there appears allegation for use of the account numbers stood in the name of the petitioners for online financial fraud, but it is ascertained in the course of investigation that co-accused Rudra Prasad Tripathy had induced the petitioners to open up mule accounts in lieu of commission @ 10% of transaction amount and, accordingly, the petitioners had opened up the mule accounts and handed over the credentials of such accounts to the co-accused Rudra Prasad Tripathy. It is, however, stated in the written instruction that a sum of Rs.3,89,164/- has been credited to the alleged UCO Bank account of the petitioner Sumanta Munda, whereas a sum of Rs.36,511/- has been credited to the account of the petitioner Niral Bhengra @ Niraj and a sum of Rs.16,70,000/- has been credited to the account of the petitioner Amit Aind, but subsequently, these amounts have been diverted from their accounts. On perusal of record, this Court does not find any prima facie material for direct involvement of the petitioners in online financial fraud. The petitioners are in custody since 19.02.2026, but in the meantime, charge-sheet has already been submitted. In the aforesaid premises and on consideration of materials placed on record, this Court without expressing any view on merits, admits each of the petitioners to bail.
Hence, these three bail applications of the petitioners namely Sumanta Munda (In BLAPL No.6451 of 2026); Niral Bhengra @ Niraj (In BLAPL No.5761 of 2026) and Amit Aind & Bijaya Kak (In BLAPL No.5838 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, these BLAPLs stand 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.