Allowed¶59

Mrinal Ghosh and 24 Ors. v. the State of Assam

Gauhati HC13 Feb 2025AB/2017/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

anticipatory bail; pre-arrest bail; Section 482 BNSS 2023; Section 21 Banning of Unregulated Deposited Schemes Act 2019; CBI ACB Guwahati Case No.RC0172024E0017; Bijni P.S. Case No. 74/2024; Chirang BTAD Assam; deposit-scheme / investment fraud investigation; bail bond Rs. 20,000 with like sureties; appearance before CBI Head of Branch Guwahati; Gauhati High Court; Parthivjyoti Saikia; common order disposing AB/2017/2024 and AB/1761/2024.

What did the court decide?

Pre-arrest (anticipatory) bail granted to all 27 applicants named in the common order; on arrest they are to be released on a bail bond of Rs. 20,000/- each with sureties of like amount to the satisfaction of the arresting authority, subject to appearing before the Head of Branch, CBI ACB Guwahati as and when called for. ¶59

Mrinal Ghosh and 24 Ors. Vs the State of Assam — Anticipatory Bail | Gauhati HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioners in both anticipatory bail applications are entitled to pre-arrest bail under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 in connection with Bijni P.S. Case No. 74/2024, re-registered as ACB Guwahati Case No.RC0172024E0017.

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Court's answer

This Court is of the opinion that keeping the petitioners in custody will not serve any purpose towards the investigation of the case.

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Ratio / Principle

The pre-arrest bail applications of the petitioners are allowed.

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Key takeaways

In the event of arrest in connection with CBI ACB Guwahati Case No.RC0172024E0017 (Bijni P.S. Case No. 74/2024), the named petitioners shall be released on bail of Rs. 20,000/- each with sureties of like amount to the satisfaction of the arresting authority.ratio¶58
All the petitioners shall appear before the CBI, Head of Branch, CBI, ACB, Guwahati, Assam as and when called for.ratio¶58

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Gauhati High Court (Parthivjyoti Saikia, J.), Order dated 14.02.2025 in Anticipatory Bail Application No. AB/2017/2024 with linked AB/1761/2024: twenty-seven applicants sought pre-arrest bail under S.482 BNSS 2023 in respect of Bijni P.S. Case No. 74/2024, which stood transferred to the CBI and re-registered as ACB Guwahati Case No.RC0172024E0017, wherein Section 21 of the Banning of Unregulated Deposited Schemes Act, 2019 was added after the transfer. Holding that keeping the petitioners in custody would not serve any purpose towards the investigation, the Court allowed both pre-arrest bail applications, directing that in the event of arrest the applicants be released on bail of ₹20,000/- each with sureties of like amount to the satisfaction of the arresting authority, and that all petitioners appear before the Head of Branch, CBI ACB Guwahati as and when called for.

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GAHC010146622024

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THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)

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Case No. : AB/2017/2024

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MRINAL GHOSH AND 24 ORS. S/O LATE SUJENDRA GHOSH R/O VILL- NO. 1 BHETAGAON, GHOSPARA P.O. BIJNI DIST. CHIRANG, BTAD, ASSAM PIN-783390

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2: SRI PURNA KANTA BRAHMAN S/O SUBODH BRAHMA R/O NAMJAAIPARA P.O. BOROBAZAR DIST. CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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3: SRI SUKLESWAR RAY S/O LATE KATIRAM RAY R/O CHOWARI BORIPARA P.O. BOROBAZAR DIST. CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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4: NARAYAN BASUMATARY S/O LANKESWAR BASUMATARY R/O VILL- BETNAPARA P.O. BETNAPARA DIST. CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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5: HILESWAR RAY S/OMUCHEN CHANDRA RAY R/O VILL- CHOWARI BORIPARA

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P.O. BOROBAZAR DIST. CHIRANG BRAD

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6: SANJAY BASUMATARY S/O NERSING BASUMATARY R/O VILL- BADULIPARA P.O. BOROBAZAR DIST. CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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7: SRI DALIM PATGIRI S/O LATE MONORAM PATIGIRI R/O KAMARGAON P.O. BOROBAZAR DIST. CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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8: NAGEN BASUMATARY S/O LATE JINA RAM BASUMATARY R/O VILL- GOLAPARA P.O. BOROBAZAR DIST. CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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9: SRI RUPNATH BASUMATARY S/O LATE DEBARU BASUMAARY R/O VILL- SILBARI

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P.O. BOROBAZAR DIST. CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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10: SRI SUNILKUMAR GOYARY S/O LATE BIRMAL CHANDRA GOYARY P.O. BOROBAZAR DIST. CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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11: SRI RAFUDAI BASUMATARY S/O SATIRAM BASUMATARY R/O VILL- LAHATIPARA P.O. BAGARGAON

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DIST. CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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12: SRI KAMAKHYA SUTRADHAR S/O KALURAM SUTRADHAR R/O VILL- NO. 1 BORIPARA P.O. BOROBAZAR DIST. CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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13: SRI HARESWAR NARZARY S/O DEBEN NARZARY R/O BETNAPARA P.O. BETNAPARA DIST. CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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14: SRI HALI RAM BASUMATARY S/O GOLAK BASUMATARY R/O NAMJAIPARA P.O.BOROBAZAR DIST. CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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15: SRI SUBAL PATHAK S/O RAMA KANTA PATHAK R/O VILL- NO. 2 DOKHINMAKRA P.O. SILBARI ABADIPARA DIST. CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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16: PRAFULLA KUMAR SUTRADHAR S/IO LATE HARIDAS SUTRADHAR R/O VILL NO 1 BORIPARA P.O.-BOROBAZAR DIST- CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390

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17: PRATAP RAY S/O LATE RAMESWAR RAY R/O VILL- CHOWARI BORIPARA P.O.-BOROBAZAR

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DIST- CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390 18: CHATIRAM BASUMATARY S/O AKHINATH BASUMATARY R/O VILL NO. 4 DAKHINIMAKRA P.O.-SILBARI ABADIPARA DIST- CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390 19: SAUMIK BRAHMA S/O LATE BALEN CHANDRA BRAHMA R/O VILL- PURADIA P.O.-BALLAMGURI DIST- CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390 20: SAMAR BASUMATARY S/O LATE DEBEN BASUMATARY R/O VILL- BALAPARA P.O.-BOROBAZAR DIST- CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390 21: SMTI NAMITA RAY W/O LATE PRABIN RAY R/O VILL NO 2 DONGAGAON P.O.-KOLIAGAON DIST- CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390 22: BIBEKANANDA SUTRADHAR S/O LATE MANESWAR SUTRADHAR R/O VILL NO. 1 BORIPARA P.O.-BAGARGAON DIST- CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390 23: SMTI. TARINI RAY S/O LATE BAHARU RAM RAY R/O VILL- HATIMARA P.O.-KOLIAGAON

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DIST-CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390 24: BRAJENDRA GOYARY S/O LATE ANURAM GOYARY R/O VILL- OXIGURI P.O.-DANGSIAPARA DIST-CHIRANG BTAD PIN-783390 25: MANINDRA KUMAR BRAHMA S/O BIREN BRAHMA R/O VILL- BIJNI TOWN P.O.-BIJNI DIST- CHIRANG BTAD PIN-78339 VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM REP BY THE PP, ASSAM

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Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. S C BISWAS, MS. J GHOSH,MS A BORAH,MS. U NANDA,MS. K L R YANTHAN

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Advocate for the Respondent : PP, ASSAM, MR M HALOI, SPL. PP, CBI

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Linked Case : AB/1761/2024

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SWAPAN KR. BASUMATARY AND ANR. S/O MAHENDRA BASUMATARY R/O VILL- BHADULIPARA P.O. BOROBAZAR DIST. CHIRANG BTAD ASSAM 2: SANTOSH KR. MUCHAHARY S/O LATE ENAM MUCHAHARY VILL- CHORAIKHOSARA P.O. BETNAPARA DIST. CHIRANG BTAD

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ASSAM VERSUS

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THE STATE OF ASSAM REP BY THE PP ASSAM

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-----------Advocate for : MR. M KHAN Advocate for : PP ASSAM appearing for THE STATE OF ASSAM

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BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PARTHIVJYOTI SAIKIA

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ORDER

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Date : 14.02.2025

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Since both the pre-arrest bail applications arise out of the same FIR, both the bail applications are taken up together for disposal by this common order.

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Heard Mr. S. C. Biswas as well as Mr. M. Khan, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. M. Haloi, the learned Special Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the CBI.

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Both these bail applications are filed u/s 482 of the BNSS, 2023 praying for pre-arrest bail in respect of Bijni P.S. Case No. 74/2024.

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It may be mentioned that the aforesaid case was later transferred to CBI, which was registered as ACB Guwahati Case No.RC0172024E0017.

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According to the FIR, the petitioners opened an organization called “Himalaya Socio-Economic Development Society”. It was a registered society. Initially the petitioners being the shareholders of the said society deposited money from their own pocket to build fund. Thereafter, they used to give loan to some other persons. Subsequently, the petitioners used to collect money from other people also with a promise to return the same with high interest rate. The said organization failed to pay the money to the investors.

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In the meantime, the Manager of the said society also fled away with a huge amount of money causing financial trouble in the society.

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The case being investigated by Assam Police, the petitioners appeared before the

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Investigating Officer and got their statements recorded.

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When the case was transferred to CBI, Section 21 of Banning of Unregulated Deposited Schemes Act, 2019 was added.

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Mr. Haloi has objected to these bail applications on the ground that the petitioners have committed a prima facie offence.

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The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners have submitted that the petitioners never had any mala fide intention to cheat people. They opened the organization just for their own benefits.

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I have considered the submissions made by the learned counsel of both sides.

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This Court is of the opinion that keeping the petitioners in custody will not serve any purpose towards the investigation of the case.

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Therefore, the pre-arrest bail applications of the petitioners are allowed.

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It is hereby directed that in the event of arrest in connection with CBI ACB Guwahati Case No.RC0172024E0017 (Bijni P.S. Case No. 74/2024), the petitioners Sri Mrinal Ghosh, Sri Purna Kanta Brahma, Sri Sukleswar Ray, Narayan Basumatary, Hileswar Ray, Sanjay Basumatary, Sri Dalim Patgiri, Nagen Basumatary, Sri Rupnath Basumatary, Sri Sunil Kumar Goyary, Sri Rafudai Basumatary, Sri Kamakhya Sutradhar, Sri Hareswar Narzary, Sri Hali Ram Basumatary, Sri Subal Pathak, Sri Prafulla Kumar Sutradhar, Sri Pratap Ray, Chatiram Basumatary, Sri Saumik Brahma, Samar Basumatary, Smti Namita Ray, Bibekananda Sutradhar, Smti Tarini Ray, Sri Brajendra Goyary, Sri Manindra Kumar Brahma, Swapan Kr. Basumatary & Santosh Kr. Muchahary shall be released on bail of ₹20,000/- each with sureties of like amount to the satisfaction of the arresting authority. 15. All the petitioners shall appear before the CBI, Head of Branch, CBI, ACB, Guwahati, Assam as and when called for.

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With the aforesaid direction, both the bail applications are disposed of. Return the CD.

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JUDGE

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Comparing Assistant

Mrinal Ghosh and 24 Ors. v. the State of Assam

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Mrinal Ghosh and 24 Ors. v. the State of Assam

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

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