MCRC/8748/2026 of HARSHIT MOTWANI Vs STATE OF CHHATTISGARH on 27 September 2026

1. This is the first bail application under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023, seeking grant of bail to the applicant, who is in jail since 20.04.2026, in connection with Crime No. 158/2026 registered at Police Station New Rajendra Nagar, District Raipur, for the offence punishable under Section 7 of the Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Section 112(2) of the BNS, 2023.

2. As per the prosecution case, on 19.04.2026, the police of Police Station New Rajendra Nagar, Raipur, while patrolling, received secret information that three persons were engaged in playing online gambling in an IPL cricket match using their Scooty Nos. CG-04-HS- 1709 and CG-04-PW-5684 at Mahavir Nagar, opposite Gurudwara, near Snooker Club. When the police conducted a raid, they found three persons and arrested three accused persons, namely, Vineet Rangwani @ Honey, Dinnashu Rangwani @ Baby and Harshit Motwani @ Honey (present applicant). Upon interrogation, they disclosed their involvement in online gambling. From accused Vineet Rangwani, one mobile phone, one Scooty vehicle and screenshots from the mobile phone were seized; from Dinnashu Rangwani, one mobile phone and screenshots from the mobile phone were seized; and from the present applicant, Harshit Motwani, two mobile phones, one Scooty vehicle, screenshots from the mobile phone and cash of Rs.10,000/- were seized. From the mobile phones of the accused persons, their involvement in online gambling through the betting app NOHMY99 was found, and they disclosed that they had purchased IDs from one Kittu. From the screenshots of their mobile phones, their prima facie involvement in the offence in question was found, and the FIR was registered. After completion of investigation, the charge-sheet has been filed.

3. Learned counsel for the applicant would submit that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the offence. There is no admissible evidence against the applicant to connect him with the offence in question. The mobile phones of the applicant are already in possession of the investigating agency and no further custodial interrogation is required. From the mobile phones of the applicant, no incriminating material could be recovered by the police, and only screenshots of the said mobile phones were recovered, which, by themselves, are not sufficient to connect the applicant with the offence in question. Electronic evidence is inadmissible in evidence and, except for the electronic evidence, there is nothing in the charge-sheet to connect the applicant with the offence of online gambling. There are no bank details or transactions. There is also no cyber expert report regarding the mobile phones of the applicant. The applicant has no criminal antecedent. Final adjudication of the case will take its own time, the alleged offences are triable by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, and the applicant is in jail since 20.04.2026. Therefore, he may be enlarged on bail.

4. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State opposes the bail application and submits that the applicant was arrested on the basis of secret information that he was engaged in online gambling. When the raid was conducted, the applicant was found actively involved in the activities of online gambling. From his mobile phones, relevant material was recovered, including screenshots, which clearly reveal his involvement in online gambling. The statements of Pawan Kasturiya and Santosh Budhwani, before whom the mobile phones were seized from the applicant and whose statements were recorded, support the involvement of the applicant in online gambling. The regular bail application of co-accused persons Vineet Rangwani @ Honey and Dinnashu Rangwani has been rejected by this Court vide order dated 03.07.2026, passed in MCRC No. 5161 of

2026. Thus, looking to the gravity of the offence and his network for playing online gambling, he is not entitled to bail.

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

6. Considering the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, the nature of the allegations and the material collected during investigation, the screenshots recovered from the mobile phones of the accused persons reveal their involvement in playing online gambling, and their mobile phones were sent to a cyber expert for examination. Considering the statements of witnesses Pawan Kasturiya and Santosh Budhwani, and also considering the gravity of the offence and their syndicate for playing online gambling and also that the bail application of co-accused persons Vineet Rangwani @ Honey and Dinnashu Rangwani is rejected by this Court on 03.07.2026, I am not inclined to release the applicant on bail at this stage.

7. Accordingly, the bail application is rejected. Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) Judge ved