Junior Engineer detained after a bribe trap linked to MGNREGA disbursement sought bail; chemical test showing pink sodium carbonate solution indicated involvement, so the court declined to grant bail at this stage.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
2026:JHHC:17659
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
B.A. No. 5484 of 2026
Ankush Kumar @ Ankush, S/o Indrasan Yadav … … Petitioner Versus The State of Jharkhand through A.C.B. … … Opp. Party
CORAM: HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANUBHA RAWAT CHOUDHARY
--For the Petitioner : Mr. Raj Nandan Chatterjee, Advocate For the Opp. Party : Mr. Vineet Kumar Vashistha, Advocate ---
03/18th June 2026
1. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is in custody in connection with Dhanbad A.C.B. P.S. Case No. 01/2026 corresponding to Special (Vigilance) Case No. 02/2026 for the offence registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, now said to have been pending in the court of learned Additional Sessions Judge-X-cum-Special Judge (ACB), Dhanbad.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in a case relating to trap of the petitioner, the petitioner is in custody since 12.04.2026. He submits that the petitioner is a Junior Engineer and there is an allegation that he had demanded money in connection with disbursement of amount relating to MGNREGA Scheme. The learned counsel submits that the money was not recovered from the petitioner. However, he submits that the charge-sheet has not yet been submitted.
3. Learned counsel for the opposite party has opposed the prayer for bail and has submitted that the petitioner ran away from the spot and threw the money on the way from his back pocket and when he was apprehended, his pant was dipped in sodium carbonate solution which turned pink.
4. After hearing the learned counsel for the parties and considering the aforesaid submissions made by the learned counsel for the parties and it
1
2026:JHHC:17659
appears that due process for trap was followed and the cloths of the petitioner was washed in chemical solution, which turned pink which shows involvement of the petitioner in the alleged offence , this Court is not inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail at this stage. Hence, this bail application is hereby rejected.
5. The petitioner may renew his prayer for bail after framing of charge.
6. Let a copy of this order be communicated to the court concerned through ‘e-mail/FAX’.
(Anubha Rawat Choudhary, J.)
Dated: 18.06.2026 Uploaded On: Mukul/-
2
1 issue framed by the court
Whether a Junior Engineer accused in a bribe trap case under Section 7 PC Act, in custody since 12.04.2026 with charge-sheet pending, should be enlarged on bail.
1 provisions across 1 enactments
Ankush Kumar @ Ankush, S/o Indrasan Yadav
The State of Jharkhand through A.C.B.
Anubha Rawat Choudhary
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
