Ravi Kumar Gupta Vs the State of Jharkhand — Narcotics (NDPS) | Jharkhand HC (2026)

Ravi Kumar Gupta Vs the State of Jharkhand — Narcotics (NDPS) | Jharkhand HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail granted: petitioner directed to surrender before the learned Court within three weeks and, on arrest or surrender, to be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Sessions Judge, East Singhbhum at Jamshedpur, 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 Sitaramdera P.S. Case No.115/2024 (offences under Section 3/7 of Immoral Traffic Act and Sections 20(ii) and 27 of NDPS Act), given that co-accused persons have already been granted anticipatory bail in identical situations.

Court's answer

Basis for the grant: co-accused persons have been granted anticipatory bail in identical situations; the petitioner is an Ola driver; and the petitioner has no criminal antecedent, as disclosed in para 13 of the petition.

Ratio / Principle

The privilege of anticipatory bail is extended to the petitioner in the attending facts and circumstances of the case.

Key takeaways

Terms of release: the petitioner is directed to surrender before the learned Court within three weeks; in the event of arrest or surrender, he/she is to be enlarged 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 Sessions Judge, East Singhbhum at Jamshedpur, subject to the conditions laid down under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.ratio¶15

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

ANTICIPATORY BAIL - GRANTED. High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi, A.B.A. No. 636 of 2026 (coram: Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi; decided 05.02.2026). Petitioner Ravi Kumar Gupta, apprehending arrest in connection with Sitaramdera P.S. Case No.115/2024 (S. 3/7 Immoral Traffic Act; Ss. 20(ii) and 27 NDPS Act), pending before the learned Sessions Judge, East Singhbhum at Jamshedpur, was granted anticipatory bail on the basis of parity with co-accused persons granted anticipatory bail by the Coordinate Bench in A.B.A. Nos. 6927 of 2024, 6796 of 2024 and 4048 of 2025, the petitioner being an Ola driver with no criminal antecedent (disclosed in para 13 of the petition). Petitioner directed to surrender within three weeks; on arrest or surrender, to be enlarged on bail bond of Rs.25,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each, subject to conditions under S. 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

 ( 2026:JHHC:3022 )

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI A. B. A. No. 636 of 2026

Ravi Kumar Gupta, aged about 28 years, son of Lalesh Prasad Gupta, resident of Jawhar Nagar, Bermo, P.O. and P.S. Bermo, District-Bokaro

...... … Petitioner

Versus

The State of Jharkhand .…. … Opposite Party -------- CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI For the Petitioner :Mr. J.N. Upadhyay, Advocate For the State : Mr. Anup Pawan Topno, A.P.P.

02/ 05.02.2026 : Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State.

The petitioner is apprehending her arrest in connection with Sitaramdera P.S. Case No.115/2024, registered for the offence under Section 3/7 of Immoral Traffic Act and Sections 20(ii) and 27 of NDPS Act and sections 3/7 of Immoral Traffic Act pending in the Court of the learned Sessions Judge, East Singhbhum at Jamshedpur.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that allegations are made that in a hotel some boys and girls have been apprehended and they were involved in immoral trafficking. He further submits that the petitioner is Ola driver and in the identical situation, co-accused persons have been granted anticipatory bail by the Coordinate Bench of this Court in A.B.A. No.6927 of 2024 and A.B.A. No.6796 of 2024 and A.B.A. No. 4048 of 2025. He further submits that the only allegation against the petitioner is that he was standing near the hotel. He also submits that the petitioner has got no criminal antecedent which is disclosed in para 13 of the petition.

Learned counsel for the State opposed the prayer and submits that allegations are there of immoral trafficking.

Considering that co-accused persons have been granted anticipatory bail in identical situation in the aforesaid A.B.As, the petitioner is

 ( 2026:JHHC:3022 )

Ola driver and he has no criminal antecedent which is disclosed in para 13 of the petition and in the attending facts and circumstances of the case, I am inclined to extend the privilege of 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 her arrest or surrender, she will be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/- (Twenty Five Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Sessions Judge, East Singhbhum at Jamshedpur in connection with Sitaramdera P.S. Case No.115 of 2024, subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Dt.05.02.2026

satyarthi-