SURESH SIHORE Vs. STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under Sec. 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 70/2025, registered at Police Station Anti Corruption Bureau, District Bilaspur (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Ss. 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

(2.) The case of the prosecution, is that the co-accused/Smt. Bharti Sahu being the CMO Nagar Panchayat Bodri had directed the applicant to demand and collect gratification for passing house map. The allegation against the applicant is that working as a clerk in Nagar Panchayat Bodri, he demanded a bribe of Rs.15,000.00 for the Chief Municipal Officer (CMO) for passing a map for house construction, and after negotiation with the Chief Municipal Officer (CMO), the applicant accepted a sum of Rs.12,000.00 as a bribe, which was recorded and subsequently recovered during a trap proceeding conducted by the A.C.B. Bilaspur (C.G.). Hence, this application.

(3.) It is argued by the learned counsel for the applicant that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case and the charge-sheet has not been filed in this case. It is further submitted that the father of the applicant has died during the pendency of the present bail application, and the co-accused Bharti Sahu (CMO) who was the alleged ultimate beneficiary of the bribe, has already been granted bail by the learned trial Court. The applicant is in jail since 17/12/2025 and trial is likely to take quite long time for its conclusion, therefore, he prays for grant of bail.