MP High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Four Accused in Online Betting Case

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted anticipatory bail to four individuals accused in an alleged online betting case, holding that their involvement was based solely on the statement of the main accused and that they were entitled to the same relief already granted to a similarly placed co-accused.

Justice Vivek Jain passed the order while hearing separate bail applications filed by Matadin Rajak, Satish Dhakad and others, Naval Kishore Dhakad, and Raghav Dhakad. The applicants were booked in connection with a case registered at Bamori Police Station in Guna district under provisions of the Public Gambling Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

According to the prosecution, the main accused, Prakash, was arrested in April 2026 for allegedly operating online betting activities through a mobile phone. During the investigation, he reportedly named several individuals whom he claimed were connected to the betting network. Based on these disclosures, the present applicants were also made accused in the case.

The applicants argued that there was no independent material against them and that another accused, Kapil Soni, had already received anticipatory bail in a similar situation. The State opposed the plea but failed to establish any significant distinction between the applicants and the co-accused who had earlier secured relief.

Taking note of this, the Court applied the principle of parity and granted anticipatory bail. The applicants were directed to furnish bail bonds of ₹50,000 each along with one solvent surety and comply with all statutory conditions during the investigation.