Vindhani Sadik @ Sadik Vindhani Vs State of West Bengal — Anticipatory Bail | Calcutta HC (2026)

Vindhani Sadik @ Sadik Vindhani Vs State of West Bengal — Anticipatory Bail | Calcutta HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail granted: in the event of arrest, release on bail on a bond of Rs.10,000/- with two sureties of like amount each (one local), subject to Section 438 CrPC / Section 482 BNSS conditions and further conditions of cooperation with investigation, abstention from threatening/intimidating witnesses or tampering with evidence, and meeting the Investigating Officer as and when required.

Issue for consideration

Whether anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (corresponding to Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023) should be granted to the petitioner in connection with Contai PS Case No.746/2025.

Court's answer

Considering the other materials available in the case diary and the alleged role ascribed to the present petitioner, custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not required in this case and the Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

Ratio / Principle

In the event of arrest, the petitioner is to be released on bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs.10,000/- with two sureties of like amount each, one of whom must be local, subject to the conditions under Section 438 CrPC / Section 482 BNSS and further conditions to cooperate with the investigation, not threaten or intimidate witnesses or tamper with evidence, and meet the Investigating Officer as and when required.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail — S.438 Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 / S.482 Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — granted. Petitioner Vindhani Sadik @ Sadik Vindhani, not named in the FIR, sought pre-arrest bail in Contai PS Case No.746/2025 dated 20.12.2025 under Sections 303(2)/317(2)/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, following recovery of sacks of betel nuts from a vehicle on 19.12.2025; the only material against him was stated to be a co-accused's statement. Considering the case diary and the alleged role ascribed to the petitioner, the Court held that custodial interrogation was not required and granted anticipatory bail: release in the event of arrest on a bond of Rs.10,000/- with two sureties of like amount each (one local), subject to the statutory conditions and further conditions to cooperate with the investigation, not threaten or intimidate witnesses or tamper with evidence, and meet the Investigating Officer as and when required. Application disposed of. (Jay Sengupta, J.)

08.06.2026 Sl. No.25 Ct. 28

NB

C.R.M (A) 1388 of 2026

In Re:- An application for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 corresponding to Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in connection with Contai PS Case No.746/2025 dated 20.12.2025 under Sections 303(2)/317(2)/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

And

In the matter of: Vindhani Sadik @ Sadik Vindhani

… petitioner

Mr. Angshuman Chakraborty, Mr. S. S. Saha. …for the petitioner.

Mr. Krishnendu Bhattacharya, Mr. Somnath Adhikary. …for the State.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits as follows. The petitioner was not named in the FIR. On 19.12.2025, some sacks of betel nuts were recovered from a vehicle. The only material available against the petitioner is the statement of a co-accused, which is not admissible in evidence.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State relies on the case diary and opposes the prayer for anticipatory bail. He submits that the petitioner has not responded to the notice given. A person has applied before the Court for return of the betel nuts. Therefore, the petitioner could not have been the owner of the betel nuts.

Considering the above, the other materials available in the case diary and the alleged role ascribed to the present petitioner, I do not think that custodial interrogation of the

2

petitioner is required in this case and I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

Accordingly, in the event of arrest, the petitioner shall be released on bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs.10,000/- with two sureties of like amount each, one of whom must be local, to the satisfaction of Arresting Officer and subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, corresponding to Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and on further condition that the petitioner shall cooperate with the investigation and shall not threaten or intimidate witnesses or tamper with evidence in any manner whatsoever and the petitioner shall meet the Investigating Officer as and when required.

The application for anticipatory bail is, thus, disposed of. Urgent photostat certified copies of this order may be delivered to the learned Advocates for the parties, if applied for, upon compliance of all formalities.

(Jay Sengupta, J.)