Authority: High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur

Order Date: 15/06/2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Applicants – XYZ (three petitioners); Respondent – State of Chhattisgarh, represented through the Station House Officer, Police Station Bhakhara, District Dhamtari.
  • Proceedings: Consolidated criminal revisions CRR No. 523, CRR No. 578 and CRR No. 579 of 2026, all arising from the same Crime No. 07/2026, were heard together under a common order.
  • Background: On 26‑01‑2026 at approximately 8:15 PM, complainant Vinay Kumar Sahu lodged a report at Police Station Bhakhara stating that his brother, Omkar Sahu, was assaulted by unknown persons, who used a club, caused injuries and stole his Jio mobile phone valued at Rs 10,000. An FIR was registered against unknown persons; during investigation the three applicants were arrested.
  • Prior Orders: The applicants’ bail applications were rejected by the Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Dhamtari (orders dated 05‑02‑2026 and 11‑03‑2026) and later affirmed by the Additional Sessions Judge (F.T.C.) and Children’s Court, Dhamtari (orders dated 16‑03‑2026 and 27‑03‑2026) in Criminal Appeal Nos. 12/2026, 15/2026 and 16/2026.
  • Legal Provisions Invoked: Section 102 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015; Sections 126(2), 115(1), 309(6), 3(5) and 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
  • Counsel Submissions: Applicants’ counsel (Adv. Sanjeev Kumar Sahu) argued no criminal antecedents, innocence, FIR originally against unknown persons, four‑month stay in observation home since 31‑01‑2026, and favorable social status report. State counsel (Adv. Dharmesh Shrivastava, Advocate General, Deputy) acknowledged the favorable social status report and lack of antecedents but opposed bail.
  • Judicial Reasoning: Section 12 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 mandates release on bail unless release would expose the child to known criminals, moral/physical/psychological danger, or defeat the ends of justice. The judge found no adverse social status report, no risk of contact with criminal elements, and no criminal antecedents.

Final Outcome

  • The orders of the Special Judge and Juvenile Justice Board are set aside; the criminal revisions are allowed.
  • Each applicant is to furnish a personal bail bond of Rs 10,000 through parents/guardians, plus one local surety of equal amount, to the satisfaction of the Court.
  • Along with the bonds, copies of Aadhaar cards, coloured passport‑size photographs of the applicants and sureties must be submitted and verified by the trial court.
  • The surety must undertake that the applicant will not associate with any “bad element” and must inform the police if the applicant engages in any unlawful act.
  • Upon compliance, the applicants will be released into the custody of their respective parents/guardians.

Topics: Juvenile Justice, Criminal Bail