Arjun Sonwani Vs State of Chhattisgarh

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Digitally signed by ALLENA ANJANI KUMAR Date: 2026.07.10 15:31:10 +0530

CGHC010194132026

2026:CGHC:28909

NAFR

HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

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MCRC No. 4896 of 2026

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Arjun Sonwani S/o Pramod Sonwani, Aged About 18 Years 6 Months, R/o Village Lirhul Police Station Kusmi, District Balrampur-Ramanujganj Chhattisgarh ... Applicant

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versus

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State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer Of Police Station Kusmi District Balrampur-Ramanujganj Chhattisgarh ... Non-Applicant

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For Applicant : Shri Hariom Rai, Advocate. For Non-applicant/State : Ms. Swati R. Gupta, Panel Lawyer.

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(HON’BLE SHRI JUSTICE RADHAKISHAN AGRAWAL)

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Order Sheet

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10/07/2026

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This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, the BNSS) for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 76/2025 registered at Police Station – Kusmi, Dist Balrampur-Ramanujganj (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 64 (1), 65 (1), 137 (2), 87 of BNS and Section 4 (2) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (for short, the POCSO Act).

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As per the prosecution’s case, on 29^th August, 2025, the prosecutrix had gone to School and on the same day, the School Principal told the

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mother of the victim/prosecutrix that due to some school programme, she had been sent to Balrampur and upon such information, the family of the victim searched out the victim in the Trongri Hills and surrounding villages, but the victim could not be traced out. On the next day, mother of the victim came to know that the applicant/accused lured her and taken her to Rajpur and after that, mother of the prosecutrix went to Rajpur and traced the address of the victim and brought her back to house. On enquiry, the victim disclosed her mother that the applicant enticed her by saying that he would marry her and developed physical relationship with her. Mother of the victim lodged a written report in this regard. Based on this, offence under the above sections has been registered against the present applicant.

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Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has not committed any offence. He further submits that the victim and her mother have been examined as P.W.1 and P.W.2 before the trial Court and as per the statement of the victim, she was major and the applicant has neither abducted her nor committed any rape upon her. He further submits that as per the order sheet of the trial Court, the mother of the victim has not raised any objection with respect to grant of bail. He further submits that the applicant is in jail since 01.09.2025 and that, trial is going on and it may take some considerable time to conclude. On these premises, he prays for the grant of regular bail to the applicant.

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On the other hand, learned counsel for the State opposed the bail application.

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Even after service of notice upon the victim/prosecutrix, none was

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present.

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I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary.

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Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and further looking to the statements of the victim and her mother and the trial is likely to take considerable time, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter, I am inclined to release the applicant on bail.

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Accordingly, the application is allowed and it is directed that the applicant shall be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs. 15,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the trial Court. The applicant is directed to appear before the trial Court on each and every date to be given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial. It is made clear that any observation made by this Court in this order shall not affect the trial of the case.

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Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for information.

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Sd/-

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(Radhakishan Agrawal)

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JUDGE

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Anjani

Arjun Sonwani v. State of Chhattisgarh

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Arjun Sonwani v. State of Chhattisgarh

Case brief

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