Ajay Mahato Alias Ajay Kumar Mahato Vs the State of Jharkhand — Jharkhand HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Ajay Mahato Alias Ajay Kumar Mahato Vs the State of Jharkhand — Jharkhand HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Regular bail admitted on furnishing bail bond of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Additional Sessions Judge-IV, Dhanbad in connection with Sessions Trial Case No.508 of 2025 arising out of Govindpur P.S. Case No.283 of 2025, subject to the three stated conditions (attendance on all trial dates; no similar offences; no tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses, failing which bail to be cancelled and custody taken by trial court).

Issue for consideration

Whether petitioner Ajay Mahato @ Ajay Kumar Mahato, accused under Section 303(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 in connection with Sessions Trial Case No.508 of 2025 (arising out of Govindpur P.S. Case No.283 of 2025), should be admitted to regular bail.

Court's answer

Considering the facts and circumstances (including that petitioner's name surfaced on the basis of the co-accused's confessional statement and nothing was recovered from his possession, points the State did not dispute), the court felt inclined to admit petitioner on bail and allowed the prayer for bail.

Ratio / Principle

Bail is conditional: petitioner must be physically present on each and every date till conclusion of trial; must not indulge in any other or similar offence; must not tamper with prosecution evidences or influence prosecution witnesses; on violation of these conditions the bail shall be cancelled and the petitioner taken into custody by the learned trial court itself.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Regular bail granted (Section 303(2), Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023) — High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi (Pradeep Kumar Srivastava, J.), B.A. No.736 of 2026, Order No.02 dated 26.02.2026: petitioner Ajay Mahato @ Ajay Kumar Mahato, accused in Sessions Trial Case No.508 of 2025 arising out of Govindpur P.S. Case No.283 of 2025 pending before Additional Sessions Judge-IV, Dhanbad, admitted to bail on a bond of Rs.20,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each. Per the F.I.R., the informant's stolen truck was recovered from the petitioner's possession along with co-accused Shyam Lal Mahato @ Matal; counsel for the petitioner submitted that his name surfaced only via the co-accused's confessional statement, that nothing was recovered from his conscious possession (the truck being traced to the kabari shop of Rajibul Shekh @ Rajiv, earlier bailed by a Coordinate Bench vide B.A. No.8878 of 2025 dated 17.11.2025), and undertook trial cooperation; the State opposed, noting one criminal antecedent, without disputing the confession/no-recovery points. Conditions of bail: physical presence on every trial date, abstention from any other or similar offence, and no tampering with prosecution evidences or influencing of prosecution witnesses; violation entails cancellation of bail and taking into custody by the learned trial court itself.

2026:JHHC:5681

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI B.A. No.736 of 2026

Ajay Mahato @ Ajay Kumar Mahato, aged about 22 years, son of Shayam Lal Mahato, Resident of Saraiyabhita, P.O. and P.S. – Beliapur, District – Dhanbad.

… Petitioner

Versus

The State of Jharkhand … Opposite Party

Coram: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRADEEP KUMAR SRIVASTAVA

For the Petitioner : Mr. Aniket Jaiswal, Adv. For the State : Mr. Satish Kr. Keshri, A.P.P.

Order No.02/Dated- 26.02.2026

1. Heard learned counsel for the parties.

2. The petitioner has been made an accused in connection with Sessions Trial Case No.508 of 2025 arising out of Govindpur P.S. Case No.283 of 2025 registered for offence punishable under Section 303(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which is pending in the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge-IV, Dhanbad.

3. As per F.I.R., the stolen truck of the informant was recovered from the possession of petitioner along with co-accused Shyam Lal Mahato @ Matal.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that petitioner is innocent and has committed no offence at all rather he has been falsely implicated in this case. It is further submitted that his name has surfaced in this case on the basis of confessional statement of co-accused Shyam Lal Mahato @ Matal. Nothing has been recovered from the conscious possession of the petitioner rather the stolen truck of the informant was recovered from kabari shop of one Rajibul Shekh @ Rajiv, who has been granted bail by a Coordinate Bench of this Court vide B.A. No.8878 of 2025 dated 17.11.2025. Petitioner undertakes to cooperate in the trial of the case and abide by all terms and conditions which may be imposed. Hence, the petitioner may be admitted to bail.

5. On the other hand, learned Addl. P.P appearing for the State has opposed the prayer for regular bail of the petitioner and submitted that there is one criminal antecedent against the petitioner. Although, he has not disputed the fact that the name of petitioner has surfaced on the

2026:JHHC:5681

basis of confessional statement of co-accused and nothing has been recovered from his possession.

6. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, I feel inclined to admit the petitioner on bail. Therefore, the prayer for bail of the petitioner is allowed on furnishing bail bond of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Additional Sessions Judge-IV, Dhanbad in connection with Sessions Trial Case No.508 of 2025 arising out of Govindpur P.S. Case No.283 of 2025 subject to the conditions:-

(1) Petitioner shall remain physically present on each and every date till the conclusion of the trial of this case unless prevented from sufficient cause to the satisfaction of the learned trial court.

(2) Petitioner shall not indulge in any or other similar offence till the conclusion of the trial.

(3) Petitioner shall not indulge in tampering with the prosecution evidences or influencing the prosecution witnesses. In case of violation of the aforesaid conditions, the bail of the petitioner shall be cancelled and shall be taken into custody by the learned trial court itself.

(Pradeep Kumar Srivastava, J.)

Dated: 26^th February, 2026 Sachin/ Uploaded on: 27/02/2026