Sonu Karmakar Vs the State of Jharkhand — Jharkhand HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Sonu Karmakar Vs the State of Jharkhand — Jharkhand HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Release on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees twenty-five thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Sessions Judge – IX - cum – Spl. Judge, POCSO, Dhanbad, subject to five conditions: one bailor to be the petitioner's pairvikar; the other bailor a close relative; attendance in court on every date with cancellation of bail bond on even a single default; deposit of self-attested Aadhar Card copy with mobile number not to change without prior permission; and full co-operation with trial proceedings.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner, in custody since 03.11.2025 in Chirkunda (Panchet O.P) P.S. Case No.329 of 2025 corresponding to Special POCSO Case No.151 of 2025 registered under Section 96 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, should be released on regular bail.

Court's answer

The petitioner is directed to be released on bail on furnishing a bail bond of Rs. 25,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Sessions Judge – IX - cum – Spl. Judge, POCSO, Dhanbad, after considering the submissions of counsel and the fact that the charge sheet had already been submitted.

Ratio / Principle

Bail is granted subject to conditions: one bailor to be the petitioner's present pairvikar and the other a close relative; the petitioner must attend court on each and every date, and even a single default shall lead to cancellation of the bail bond; he must deposit a self-attested copy of his Aadhar Card along with his mobile number, not to be changed during the pendency of the case without prior permission of the court; and he shall fully co-operate with the trial court proceedings.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bail — Regular bail granted. The High Court of Jharkhand (Anubha Rawat Choudhary, J.) allowed B.A. No. 1743 of 2026 and directed release of Sonu Karmakar (aged about 23 years), in custody since 03.11.2025 in Chirkunda (Panchet O.P) P.S. Case No.329 of 2025, corresponding to Special POCSO Case No.151 of 2025, registered under Section 96 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and pending before the Additional Sessions Judge – IX - cum – Spl. Judge, POCSO, Dhanbad, on a bail bond of Rs. 25,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each. The victim's statement under Section 183 BNSS recorded that she eloped with the petitioner, performed marriage, and that no sexual act was committed; the State contended the minor victim was kidnapped and recovered from West Burdwan, West Bengal; the case diary (paragraph 49) noted the victim's relatives refused medical examination; the charge sheet had already been submitted. Conditions imposed: one bailor to be the petitioner's pairvikar, the other a close relative; attendance on every date with cancellation of bail bond on even a single default; deposit of self-attested Aadhar Card copy and mobile number; full co-operation with the trial court.

2026:JHHC:6603

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI

B.A. No. 1743 of 2026

Sonu Karmakar, aged about 23 years, son of Dipak Karmakar, resident of Patlabari, P.O. Panchet, P.S. Chirkunda (Panchet O.P.), District Dhanbad, Jharkhand … … Petitioner

Versus

The State of Jharkhand … … Opposite Party

CORAM :HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANUBHA RAWAT CHOUDHARY

For the Petitioner : Md. Zaid Ahmed, Advocate For the Opp. Party : Mr. Nawin Kr. Singh, Advocate

03 /12.03.2026 Heard the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the parties.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is in custody since 03.11.2025 in connection with Chirkunda (Panchet O.P) P.S. Case No.329 of 2025, corresponding to Special POCSO Case No.151 of 2025, registered under Section 96 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, now pending in the court of learned Additional Sessions Judge – IX - cum – Spl. Judge, POCSO, Dhanbad.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the statement of the victim has been recorded under Section 183 BNSS and she has submitted that she eloped with the petitioner and performed marriage and no sexual act has been committed by the petitioner. He submits that the petitioner is aged about 23 years and he is in custody since 03.11.2025. He further submits that charge sheet has already been submitted.

4. The learned counsel for the State has submitted that the victim was kidnapped and is a minor and she was recovered from West Burdwan, West Bengal from the house of relative of the petitioner.

5. To this, the learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the victim in her statement has not supported the case of any enticement or kidnapping.

6. During the course of hearing, it transpired that in paragraph 49 of the case diary, it has been recorded that the victim was produced for medical examination, but the relatives of the victim refused for medical examination.

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2026:JHHC:6603

7. After hearing the learned counsel for the parties and after considering the aforesaid submissions and also the fact that the charge sheet having already been submitted, the petitioner is directed to be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees twenty-five thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Sessions Judge – IX - cum – Spl. Judge, POCSO, Dhanbad in connection with Chirkunda (Panchet O.P) P.S. Case No.329 of 2025, corresponding to Special POCSO Case No.151 of 2025, on the following conditions:

(i) One of the bailors would be the present pairvikar of the petitioner.

(ii) The other bailor should be his close relative.

(iii) The petitioner will attend the court on each and every date and on account of even single default, the learned court shall cancel the bail bond furnished by the petitioner.

(iv) The petitioner will deposit a self-attested copy of his Aadhar Card along with his mobile number before the learned court which he will not change during the pendency of the case without prior permission of the court.

(v) The petitioner shall fully co-operate with the proceedings before the learned trial court.

8. The instant application is allowed with the aforesaid conditions. 9. Let a copy of this order be communicated to the learned court concerned through “FAX/email”.

(Anubha Rawat Choudhary, J.)

Date of Order:12.03.2026 Saurav Date of Uploading:13.03.2026

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