Sandeep Khare Vs State of Chhattisgarh (Chhattisgarh High Court)
The Chhattisgarh High Court considered the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 by the applicant arrested in connection with Crime No. 87/2023 registered at Police Station Kirandul, District South Bastar Dantewada, for offences under Section 420 IPC and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. According to the prosecution, the complainant was induced by an unknown caller to transfer money on the pretext of customs charges, currency conversion, GST, income tax, and other official fees for the release of a parcel allegedly containing foreign currency. The complainant allegedly transferred substantial sums, including about ₹5,00,000, opened a new bank account, shared bank account and debit card details, and deleted transaction messages after being assured that RBI officials would facilitate the transfer of funds. When additional demands of ₹50,00,000 were made and no money was received, the complainant lodged the complaint.
The applicant submitted that he was innocent and had been falsely implicated. It was contended that co-accused Aakash Bansal had opened and operated the applicant’s bank account using his documents, that the applicant neither operated the account nor knew of the transactions, and that no recovery had been effected from his possession. It was further submitted that, according to the charge-sheet, the complainant’s money was first credited to a co-accused’s account before being transferred to the applicant’s account. The applicant also relied on the fact that he had remained in custody since 07.11.2025, that the offences were triable by a Magistrate, and that co-accused Sachin Sahu, Arvind Kumar, and Vidya Kumar had already been granted bail by the High Court on 23.03.2026. Bail was sought on the ground of parity and the likelihood of delay in completion of the trial.
