Ranjana Kumari v. State of Jharkhand

Jharkhand HC13 Apr 2026A.B.A./1555/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Anticipatory bail application; A.B.A.; High Court of Jharkhand, Ranchi; 2026:JHHC:10559; decided 13.04.2026; Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi; petitioner Ranjana Kumari; Lohardaga PS Case No.13 of 2026; BNS 2023 sections 308(5), 303(2), 329(4), 3(5); alleged theft of household articles from informant's house; sister-in-law of informant; teacher; no criminal antecedent; surrender within two weeks; release on sureties at discretion of trial court; CJM Lohardaga; State counsel opposed; petition disposed.

What did the court decide?

Petitioner directed to surrender before the learned court within two weeks from 13.04.2026 and to be released by that court on such terms and conditions and sureties as it deems fit and proper. ¶¶15

Ranjana Kumari Vs State of Jharkhand — Jharkhand HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Petitioner directed to surrender before the learned court within two weeks from 13.04.2026 and to be released by that court on such terms and conditions and sureties as it deems fit and proper.

¶¶15

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner, who apprehends arrest in Lohardaga PS Case No.13 of 2026 (offences under sections 308(5), 303(2), 329(4) and 3(5) of BNS, 2023), should receive pre-arrest protection via a surrender-and-release direction (application filed as A.B.A. No. 1555 of 2026).

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Court's answer

Considering that the petitioner is the sister-in-law of the informant, discharges duty as a teacher in a school, and has no criminal antecedent (per paragraph no.14), the Court directed the petitioner to surrender before the learned court within two weeks, upon which she shall be released on such terms and conditions and sureties as that court deems fit and proper.

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Ratio / Principle

The petitioner having no criminal antecedent, as stated at paragraph no.14, was an express basis of the decision, the Court proceeding 'in that view of the matter'.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Jharkhand High Court, Ranchi — A.B.A. No. 1555 of 2026 (neutral citation 2026:JHHC:10559), decided 13.04.2026 by Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J. (single judge). Petitioner Ranjana Kumari, sister-in-law of the informant and a working teacher in a government school, apprehended arrest in Lohardaga PS Case No.13 of 2026, registered under sections 308(5), 303(2), 329(4) and 3(5) of BNS, 2023, pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lohardaga; allegations were of entering the informant's house and stealing household articles, with other family members also implicated. Noting the petitioner's relationship to the informant, her teaching duties, and the absence of any criminal antecedent (recorded at paragraph no.14), the Court directed her to surrender within two weeks and ordered that the trial court release her on terms, conditions and sureties it deemed fit and proper. Petition disposed of. No precedent was cited or discussed.

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2026:JHHC:10559

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND, RANCHI A.B.A. No. 1555 of 2026

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----

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Ranjana Kumari, aged about 56 years, daughter of late Kameshwar Prasad Singh, resident of House No.495 Chandrakala Niwas, Near Bageshwari Apartment, Aryapuri, Ratu Road, Ranchi, PO and PS Sukhdeonagar, District Ranchi, at present r/o Elite Tower, Flat No.4/5,4^th floor Near Shere Punjab Chowk, Adityapur-1, PO and PS Adityapur, District Saraikela -Kharsawan, Jharkhand.... Petitioner

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-- Versus --

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The State of Jharkhand …...... Opposite Party

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI

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--For the Petitioner :- Mr. Pankaj Kr Choudhary, Advocate For the State :- Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Advocate ----

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/13.04.2026 Heard learned counsels for petitioner and for State.

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The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in connection with Lohardaga PS Case No.13 of 2026, for offence registered under section 308(5), 303(2), 329(4) and 3(5) of BNS, 2023, pending in court of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lohardaga.

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Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner happened to be sister-in-law of the informant and she works in a government school. He further submits that only allegation is made against the petitioner of entering into the house of the informant and stealing the house hold articles. He next submits that the allegations are also made against the other family members.

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Learned State counsel opposes prayer and submits that allegation is there of stealing household articles from the house of the informant.

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Considering that the petitioner happened to be the sister-in-law and she is discharging the duty as a teacher in a particular school. In paragraph no.14, it has been stated that the petitioner has got no criminal antecedent, and in that view of the matter, the petitioner, above named, is, hereby, directed to surrender before learned court within two weeks from today, and learned court shall release the petitioner, above named, on such terms and conditions as well as sureties as the learned court may deem fit and proper.

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This petition is disposed of.

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( Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.)

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13.04.2026

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SI/

Ranjana Kumari v. State of Jharkhand

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Ranjana Kumari v. State of Jharkhand

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

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What the court decided

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