Authority: High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur

Order Date: 06/07/2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Applicant Sukhvinder Singh, son of Gurumukh Singh, residing at A‑277, A‑Block, Market, Surya Nagar, Chandar Nagar, Ghaziabad (U.P.); Respondent State of Chhattisgarh through Station House Officer, Police Station‑Kotwali, District‑Rajnandgaon.
  • Nature of proceeding: First anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with Crime No. 290/2026 registered at Police Station‑Kotwali, Rajnandgaon.
  • Allegations: The complainant, Meera Makhija, Proprietor of Jai Maa Santoshi Cold Storage, Village Bori, District Rajnandgaon, filed a written complaint on 03.06.2026 alleging cheating under Section 420 IPC. It is alleged that the applicant, as Director of Metro Refrigeration Industries, entered into an agreement on 11.11.2022 for construction of a cold storage for a total consideration of Rs 7,18,00,000/‑.
  • Financial details: The complainant paid Rs 7,17,59,506/‑ to the applicant (Rs 6,55,38,231/‑ via bank transactions and Rs 62,21,275/‑ in cash). The applicant is alleged to have completed work worth Rs 5,19,01,394/‑ and left work worth Rs 1,98,58,112/‑ incomplete, without returning the excess amount, constituting alleged cheating and breach of trust.
  • Applicant’s defence: Counsel submitted that the dispute is purely civil and contractual, the applicant completed about 85 % of the work, and the remaining work could not be completed due to non‑payment by the complainant. The applicant issued a legal notice demanding the outstanding amount of Rs 1,61,91,969/‑ and has instituted civil recovery proceedings. He claims no dishonest intention, has no criminal antecedents, and is a permanent resident of Ghaziabad. He is willing to cooperate with investigation and abide by any conditions.
  • Respondent’s position: State counsel and counsel for the complainant opposed the grant of anticipatory bail.

Final Outcome

  • The Court, after hearing counsel and reviewing materials, granted anticipatory bail to Sukhvinder Singh without commenting on the merits, noting the civil nature of the dispute and the likely duration of investigation and trial.
  • Conditions imposed on the applicant upon arrest:

(a) No direct or indirect inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts to dissuade disclosure to the Court.

(b) No act prejudicial to a fair and expeditious trial.

(c) Appear before the trial Court on every date fixed until disposal of the trial.

(d) Submit a copy of Aadhaar card along with a coloured full‑size photograph bearing the Aadhaar number, to be verified by the trial Court.

(e) Not involve himself in any offence of similar nature in the future.

  • The bail is to be secured by a personal bond and one local surety in a sum satisfactory to the arresting officer.

Topics: Anticipatory Bail, Cold Storage Contract Dispute