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Shaurya Sunil Kumar Singh v. Central Bureau of Investigation

Criminal Appeal · 2026 INSC 666Decided 1 Jul 2026
Crl.A. No.-003094-003094 - 2026
Justice Sanjay Karol · Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh · Justice N.V. Anjaria

Background

The appellant was arrested in a cyber-fraud/"digital arrest" scam investigated by the CBI, accused of providing logistical support (transporting cheque books, ATM and SIM cards) to a mule-account racket. After the CBI filed its chargesheet within the statutory time limit, the appellant argued he was entitled to default bail because additional copies of the chargesheet required for supply to him under Section 193(8) of the BNSS were not filed on time. Both the Special Judge and the Bombay High Court rejected his default bail plea.

Decision Breakdown

The Supreme Court held that the right to default bail arises only when the chargesheet itself is not filed within the prescribed 60/90-day period. Once a proper chargesheet is filed on time, that right is extinguished. The separate requirement to file additional copies for the accused (Section 193(8)) and to supply them within 14 days (Section 230) is a distinct, directory obligation whose breach does not invalidate the chargesheet or revive the default bail right. Since the CBI's chargesheet was filed in proper form and on time, the appeal was dismissed, though the Court clarified the appellant's separate regular bail application could still be considered on its own merits.

Lesson Learnt

Default bail is strictly tied to the timely filing of the chargesheet itself, not to procedural lapses like delayed supply of copies to the accused: those lapses may be curable separately but do not automatically entitle an accused to release.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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