Ashok Yadav Vs the State of Jharkhand — Mining and Natural Resources | Jharkhand HC (2026)

Ashok Yadav Vs the State of Jharkhand — Mining and Natural Resources | Jharkhand HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail granted: petitioner directed to surrender within three weeks; on surrender/arrest, release on bail bonds of Rs. 25,000 with two sureties of the like amount each, subject to Section 482(2) BNSS 2023 conditions.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner, who is apprehending arrest in connection with Ghatsila P.S. Case No. 81/2025, should be granted the privilege of anticipatory bail.

Court's answer

In the attending facts and circumstances of the case, the court was inclined to grant anticipatory bail and directed the petitioner to surrender before the learned court within three weeks.

Ratio / Principle

In the event of surrender or arrest, the petitioner shall be released on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 25,000 with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of the learned A.C.J.M., Ghatsila, subject to the conditions laid down under Section 482(2) of B.N.S.S., 2023.

Key takeaways

The grant rests on the considerations that the petitioner is the driver of the truck, has no criminal antecedent (disclosed in para 11 of the petition), and the sand was booked by another person.ratio¶13

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Jharkhand High Court, Ranchi — A. B. A. No. 2036 of 2026 (decided 04.05.2026, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi): Anticipatory bail granted to Ashok Yadav, a truck driver apprehending arrest in connection with Ghatsila P.S. Case No. 81/2025, registered under sections 303(2), 317(5) of BNS, 2023, sections 4 and 21 of MMDR Act, 1957, Rule 54 of JMMC Rule, 2004, and Rules 7/9/13 of the Jharkhand Minerals and Mines (Prevention of illegal Mining Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2017, pending before the learned A.C.J.M., Ghatsila. Grounds for grant: petitioner is the driver of the truck, has no criminal antecedent (disclosed in para 11 of the petition), and the sand was booked by another person. Petitioner directed to surrender within three weeks; on surrender/arrest, to be released on bail bonds of Rs. 25,000 with two sureties of the like amount each, subject to conditions under Section 482(2) of B.N.S.S., 2023.

 ( 2026:JHHC:13165

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI A. B. A. No. 2036 of 2026

Ashok Yadav, aged 38 years, son of Dip Narayan Yadav, H. No. 9A, Rahargora Chowk, near Kali Mandir, Town-Jamshedpur, P.O. and P.S. Rahargora, District-East Singhbhum, Jharkhand

...... … Petitioner

Versus

The State of Jharkhand .…. … Opposite Party

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI For the Petitioner :Mr. Chandrajit Mukherjee, Advocate For the State : Mr. Prabhu Dayal Agrawal, Spl.P.P.

02/ 04.05.2026 : Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State.

The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in connection with Ghatsila P.S. Case No. 81/2025, registered under sections 303(2), 317(5) of BNS, 2023 and sections 4 and 21 of MMDR Act, 1957, under Rule 54 of JMMC Rule, 2004, Rules 7/9/13 of Jharkhand Minerals and Mines (Prevention of illegal Mining Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2017 pending in the Court of learned A.C.J.M, Ghatsila.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submit that petitioner is driver of truck and allegations are made that 600 cft sand was loaded on the said truck. He submits that petitioner has got no criminal antecedent which is disclosed in para 11 of the petition and the said sand was booked by another person. On these grounds, he submits that the petitioner may kindly be provided privilege of anticipatory bail.

Learned counsel for the State opposes the prayer and submits that illegally the sand was being carried out.

Considering that petitioner is driver of truck and he has got no criminal antecedent which is disclosed in para 11 of the petition and it has been pointed out that sand was booked by another person.

In the attending facts and circumstances of the case, I am

 ( 2026:JHHC:13165

inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. Accordingly, the above named, petitioner is directed to surrender before the learned court within three weeks from today and in the event of his surrender / arrest, the petitioner shall be released on bail, on furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 25,000/(twenty five thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of learned A.C.J.M, Ghatsila, in connection with Ghatsila P.S. Case No. 81/2025, subject to conditions as laid down under Section 482 (2) of B.N.S.S, 2023.

Dt.04.05.2026 satyarthi-

( Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.)