Arun Mahto Vs State of Jharkhand — Mining and Natural Resources | Jharkhand HC (2026)

Arun Mahto Vs State of Jharkhand — Mining and Natural Resources | Jharkhand HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail granted: surrender within six weeks; on surrender/arrest, release on bail bond of Rs.25,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each, subject to Section 482(2) BNSS 2023 conditions; anticipatory bail application allowed and disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioner apprehending arrest in connection with Khalari P.S. Case No. 66/2025, concerning allegations that 100 cft sand was loaded on his tractor.

Court's answer

Anticipatory bail granted: the petitioner is owner-cum-driver of the tractor, has no criminal antecedent (as disclosed in para 25 of the petition), the co-accused was already granted anticipatory bail in an identical situation (ABA No.7394 of 2025), and the petitioner earns his livelihood by driving the said tractor.

Ratio / Principle

Petitioner directed to surrender before the learned Court within six weeks from receipt of the order; on surrender/arrest, he shall be released on bail on a bail bond of Rs.25,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of the Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi.

Key takeaways

The release is subject to the conditions laid down under Section 482(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.ratio¶19

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory Bail — Alleged illegal carriage of 100 cft sand on petitioner's tractor — Khalari P.S. Case No. 66/2025, offences under section 303(2), 317(2), 3(5) of B.N.S, Section 4/21 of Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, Rule 54 of Jharkhand Mines Minerals Concession Rule Revised 2017 and rule 7/11 of Jharkhand Mines and Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2017, pending before Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi — Petitioner, aged 25, owner-cum-driver of the tractor with no criminal antecedent, earns his livelihood by driving the tractor; co-accused already granted anticipatory bail in identical situation (ABA No.7394 of 2025) — Anticipatory bail granted: surrender within six weeks, bail bond Rs.25,000/- with two sureties of like amount each, subject to conditions under Section 482(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — Application allowed and disposed of (Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J., 07.01.2026).

2026:JHHC:245

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI ABA No.7514 of 2025

Arun Mahto S/o Fuldeo Mahto, Age - 25 Yrs, R/o Village - Lurangi, Pandri, Post + Police Station - Chanho, District - Ranchi, Jharkhand

…. Petitioner

Versus

The State of Jharkhand … Opp. Party

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI

-----For the Petitioner : Ms. Vandana Kumari Singh, Advocate For the State : Mrs. Nehala Sharmin, Spl. P.P.

2/07.01.2026 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 Khalari P.S. Case No. 66/2025, for the offence Under section 303(2), 317(2), 3(5) of B.N.S, Section 4/21 of Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, Rule 54 of Jharkhand Mines Minerals Concession Rule Revised 2017, rule 7/11, of Jharkhand Mines and Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2017, pending in the court of learned Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi.

Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that petitioner is owner-cum-driver of the tractor in question and the allegations are made that 100 cft sand was loaded on the said tractor. She further submits that the petitioner has got no criminal antecedent as disclosed in Para 25 of the petition. She also submits that in identical situation co-accused has been granted anticipatory bail in ABA No.7394 of 2025.

Learned counsel appearing for the State opposed the prayer and

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2026:JHHC:245

submits that illegally sand was being carried.

Considering that the petitioner is owner-cum-driver of the tractor in question, the petitioner has got no criminal antecedent as disclosed in Para 25 of the petition and in identical situation coaccused has been granted anticipatory bail in aforesaid ABA and it has been pointed out that the petitioner earns his livelihood by way of driving the said tractor, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

Accordingly, the petitioner, above named, is directed to surrender before the learned Court within six 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/- (TwentyFive Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount of each to the satisfaction of learned Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi, in connection with Khalari P.S. Case No. 66/2025, 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.)

07.01.2026

R.Kumar

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