Manik Mahato @ Manik Chandra Mahato Vs the State of… — Anticipatory Bail | Jharkhand HC (2026)

Manik Mahato @ Manik Chandra Mahato Vs the State of… — Anticipatory Bail | Jharkhand HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail granted: petitioner to surrender within three weeks and on surrender/arrest to be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 25,000 with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Jamshedpur, in connection with Complaint Case No. 903 of 2023, subject to conditions under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Issue for consideration

Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioner, who is apprehending arrest in connection with Complaint Case No. 903 of 2023 under Section 47(a) of the Jharkhand Excise Act.

Court's answer

On the contents of the FIR, the names of the persons who had taken the name of the petitioner were not disclosed, and the petitioner has been acquitted in another case; the court was therefore inclined to grant anticipatory bail.

Ratio / Principle

The petitioner was directed to surrender before the learned court within three weeks from receipt of the order and, on surrender/arrest, to be released on bail on furnishing a bail bond of Rs. 25,000 with two sureties of the like amount each, subject to the conditions under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory Bail Application allowed — ABA No.44 of 2026, decided 12.01.2026 by Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J. (High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi) — Petitioner Manik Mahato @ Manik Chandra Mahato apprehending arrest in Complaint Case No. 903 of 2023 under Section 47(a) of the Jharkhand Excise Act, pending before learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Jamshedpur — FIR based on statement of villagers that Java Mahua liquor was stored at a particular place on the petitioner's instruction — names of the persons who named the petitioner not disclosed in the prosecution — petitioner already acquitted in the only earlier case, ST Case No.201 of 2016 — petitioner directed to surrender within three weeks and to be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000 with two sureties of the like amount each, subject to conditions under Section 482(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

2026:JHHC:664

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI ABA No.44 of 2026

Manik Mahato @ Manik Chandra Mahato, aged about 43 years, son of Late Bhuti Mahato @ Ganesh Mahato, R/O- Tola Kenddih, Village Andharjhor P.O.- Bodam, P.S.- Baram, District- East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, currently R/O- Renter of Arpana, Shiv Singh, Bagan, P.O.Agrico, P.S.- Sidhgora, District- East Singhbhum, Jharkhand

…. Petitioner

Versus

The State of Jharkhand … Opp. Party

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI

-----For the Petitioner : Mr. Anurag Kashyap, Advocate For the State : Mrs. Ruby Pandey, APP

2/12.01.2026 Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of Petitioner and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State.

The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in connection with Complaint Case No. 903 of 2023, registered for the offence punishable under Section 47(a) of the Jharkhand Excise Act, pending in the court of learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, at Jamshedpur.

Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that FIR has been registered stating that some villagers have pointed out that Java Mahua liquor was stored in a particular place on the instruction of the petitioner. He then submits that even the persons, who have taken the name of the petitioner, their names have not been disclosed in the prosecution. He also submits that prior to lodging of this case; only one case has been lodged against this petitioner, in which the petitioner has already been acquitted in ST Case No.201 of 2016.

Learned counsel appearing for the State opposed the prayer and submits that allegations are there of storing the Java Mahua liquor in a particular place.

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2026:JHHC:664

Looking into the contents of the FIR, it transpires that the name of the persons, who have taken the name of the petitioner, have not been disclosed. It has been pointed out that petitioner is nothing to do with the said Java Mahua liquor, which was stored in a particular place and in another case, the petitioner has been acquitted, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

Accordingly, the petitioner, above named, is directed to surrender before the learned Court within three weeks from the date of receipt of the order and on the event of his surrender / arrest, he shall be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/(Twenty-Five Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount of each to the satisfaction of learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Jamshedpur, in connection with Complaint Case No. 903 of 2023, subject to the condition as laid down under Section 482(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

This Anticipatory Bail Application is accordingly allowed and

disposed of.

(Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.)

12.01.2026

R.Kumar

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