Pradeep Kumar Jatav Vs State of Madhya Pradesh (Madhya Pradesh High Court)
The Madhya Pradesh High Court considered the applicant’s first application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) seeking anticipatory bail in connection with Crime No. 394/2026 registered at Police Station Kotwali, District Shivpuri, for offences punishable under Sections 308(2) and 308(6) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the prosecution, the complainant was serving as Assistant Commissioner, GST, Shivpuri. The applicant had applied for GST registration through an acquaintance, but the application was rejected on 18.07.2025 as it lacked a valid identity proof and other required documents. Despite being informed of the deficiencies and advised to comply with the prescribed requirements, the applicant allegedly insisted that the GST registration be granted. The prosecution alleged that he repeatedly visited the complainant’s office, introduced himself as a journalist, and demanded approval of his application.
The prosecution further alleged that after rejection of the GST registration application, the applicant claimed he had suffered a loss of about Rs. 20 lakhs and demanded compensation from the complainant. It was alleged that from December 2025 onwards he sent WhatsApp messages containing false, defamatory and derogatory material, threatened publication of such material, and uploaded multiple Facebook posts containing allegations against the complainant, photographs of her residence, and photographs of her family members along with allegations relating to corruption and property. The prosecution also alleged that he demanded Rs. 1 crore from the complainant, threatening to continue publishing defamatory material if the amount was not paid. According to the prosecution, he repeatedly contacted the complainant through calls and WhatsApp calls, continued publishing defamatory content even after his number was blocked, and later threatened to implicate the complainant and her family in cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and other criminal cases. On the basis of the complainant’s written complaint, FIR No. 394/2026 was registered.
