Chattisgarh High Court
Sanket Shukla vs State Of Chhattisgarh on 24 February, 2026
Author: Ramesh Sinha
Bench: Ramesh Sinha
1
Digitally
2026:CGHC:9556
signed by
VAISHALI
VAISHALI LUCKY
LUCKY NAGARIA
NAGARIA Date:
2026.02.25
11:12:53 NAFR
+0530
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
MCRCA No. 298 of 2026
• Sanket Shukla S/o. Lalit Narayan Shukla, Aged About 50 Years R/o.
Ward No. 3, Civil Line, Balodabazar District Balodabazar Bhatapara
(C.G.)
... Applicant
versus
• State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station City Kotwali, District
Balodabazar Bhatapara (C.G.)
... Respondent
(Cause title is taken from Case Information System) For Applicant : Mr. Aditya Dhar Diwan, Advocate For Respondent/State : Mr. Nitansh Jaiswal, Dy.G.A. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Order On Board 24.02.2026
1. The applicant has preferred this application under Section 482 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for grant of Anticipatory Bail, apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No. 261/2024, registered at Police Station - City Kotwali, District - Balodabazar-Bhatapara (C.G.) for the alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 384, 389, 212, 201, 34 of Indian Penal Code, 1860.
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2. As per the case of prosecution, in brief is that on 30.03.2024, Crime No. 250/2024 was registered at Police Station City Kotwali, Balodabazar, under Section 384, 389 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code against accused Monty @ Pratyush Maraiya, an unidentified masked woman and other co accused persons, and the matter was taken up for investigation. During the course of investigation, it was revealed that between 15.02.2024 to 20.02.2024, the accused persons demanded money from one Amrish Sahu by threatening to falsely implicate him in a sex scandal. Under such threat and coercion, an amount of Rs. 50,000/- and Rs. 25,000/- was paid to Ashish Shukla through Akash Kesarwani at the office of Ashish Shukla situated at Balodabazar. Further, an amount of Rs. 2,00,000/- was paid to Ravina Tandon and Anurita Banjare at Kohraud Road near Lavan Road. Thus, a total amount of Rs. 2,75,000/- is alleged to have been extorted from the victim. Upon the said facts coming to notice, Assistant Sub- Inspector Rajendra Patil registered a separate case bearing Crime No. 261/2024 under Sections 384, 389 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code against the named accused persons, namely Monty @ Pratyush Maraiya, Durga Tandon, Ravina Tandon, Pushpmala Fekar, Hirakali, Anurita Banjare, Ashish Shukla and Shirish Pandey, and undertook investigation. After completion of investigation, a charge-sheet was prepared wherein the present accused was cited as Witness No. 5 and his statement was recorded. However, a careful perusal of his statement it is allegedly revealed that the present accused, Sanket Shukla, was in close association with Devnarayan Pandey and appears to have acted as a mediator in facilitating payment of the illegally extorted amount to the accused persons, thereby prima facie establishing his role as an accomplice in the commission of the offence. It was further revealed 3 during investigation that the present accused Sanket Shukla is also involved in the commission of the aforesaid offence. Efforts were made to trace his whereabouts; however he was found absconding. Consequently, a supplementary charge-sheet bearing 873-B/2024 was filed against the present applicant.
3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated and has neither committed nor participated in the alleged offence. It is further submitted that the applicant was initially cited as a witness and was subsequently arrayed as an accused. It is also contended that no recovery has been made from the applicant. The applicant is stated to have two criminal antecedents, details of which have been mentioned in the bail application. On these grounds, prayer has been made for grant of anticipatory bail.
4. Learned counsel for the State opposes the application and submits that The applicant has three criminal cases registered against him, two of which are mentioned in the bail application and another case pertains to Crime No. 64/2021 for offences under Sections 294, 506, 341, 186 of the IPC. He also submits that the applicant actively participated in the offence and acted as a mediator in the extortion racket. It is further submitted that the nature of allegations is serious, involving extortion by threat of false implication in a sex scandal.
5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary.
6. Considering the nature and gravity of the allegations, the material collected during investigation, the specific role attributed to the 4 applicant as a mediator in facilitating the extorted payments, and the fact that he was absconding during investigation, this Court is of the opinion that custodial interrogation of the applicant may be necessary. The offences alleged are serious in nature and involve deliberate acts of intimidation and extortion, as such, I am not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant.
7. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant-
Sanket Shukla, filed under Section 482 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 involved in Crime No.261/2024, registered at Police Station - City Kotwali, District - Balodabazar-Bhatapara (C.G.) for the alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 384, 389, 212, 201, 34 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 is rejected.
8. Needless to say that the trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed and conclude the trial expeditiously.
9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith.
Sd/-
(Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Vaishali