Rajendra Singh Munda Vs the State of Jharkhand — Mining and Natural Resources | Jharkhand HC (2026)

Rajendra Singh Munda Vs the State of Jharkhand — Mining and Natural Resources | Jharkhand HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail granted and application disposed of: petitioner to surrender within three weeks; on surrender/arrest, release on bail bond of Rs.25,000 with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi, subject to Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with Complaint Case No.-28946/2025.

Issue for consideration

Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioner, who is apprehending arrest in connection with Complaint Case No.-28946/2025 (offences under Sections 4, 21 of the Mines and Minerals Regulation and Development Act, 1957 r/w Rule 54 of the Jharkhand Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004 r/w Rules 9, 11 of the Jharkhand Minerals Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation, and Storage Rules, 2017) pending before the learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi.

Court's answer

Anticipatory bail is granted to the petitioner, the court being inclined to do so because, in an identical situation, the owner of the same tractor had been granted anticipatory bail in ABA No.7549 of 2025, and the petitioner has no criminal antecedent as disclosed in Para 12 of the petition.

Ratio / Principle

Terms of release: the petitioner is directed to surrender before the learned Court within three weeks from receipt of the order, and on surrender/arrest shall be released 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 Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi, in connection with Complaint Case No.-28946/2025, subject to the conditions laid down under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi (Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.), ABA No.7550 of 2025, decided 09.01.2026 — Anticipatory Bail Application allowed. Petitioner Rajendra Singh Munda (aged about 24 years), stated to be the driver of a tractor alleged to have been loaded with 100 cft. of sand, was apprehending arrest in connection with Complaint Case No.-28946/2025 for offences under Sections 4, 21 of the Mines and Minerals Regulation and Development Act, 1957 r/w Rule 54 of the Jharkhand Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004 r/w Rules 9, 11 of the Jharkhand Minerals Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation, and Storage Rules, 2017, pending before the learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi. Anticipatory bail was granted on the ground that, in an identical situation, the owner of the said tractor had already been granted anticipatory bail in ABA No.7549 of 2025, and the petitioner had no criminal antecedent as disclosed in Para 12 of the petition. Petitioner directed to surrender within three weeks; on surrender/arrest, to be released on 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.

2026:JHHC:451

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI ABA No.7550 of 2025

Rajendra Singh Munda, aged about 24 years, Son of Vishnu Charan Munda, Resident of Village- Nuru, P.O & P.S.- Sonahatu, District Ranchi (Jharkhand)- 835204. …. Petitioner

Versus

The State of Jharkhand … Opp. Party

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI

-----For the Petitioner : Mr. Sankalp Goswami, Advocate For the State : Mrs. Ruby Pandey, APP

2/09.01.2026 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.-28946/2025, for offences registered under Sections 4, 21 of the Mines and Minerals Regulation and Development Act, 1957, r/w Rule 54 of Jharkhand Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004, r/w Rule 9, 11 of the Jharkhand Minerals Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation, and Storage Rules, 2017, pending in the Court of Learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi.

Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that petitioner is the driver of tractor and the allegations are made of loading 100 cft. sand on the said tractor. He next submits that owner of the said tractor has been granted anticipatory bai in ABA No.7549 of 2025. He further submits that the petitioner has got no criminal antecedent as disclosed in Para 12 of the petition.

Learned counsel appearing for the State opposed the prayer and submits that illegally sand was being carried.

1

2026:JHHC:451

Considering that in identical situation, the owner of the said tractor has been granted anticipatory bail in ABA No.7549 of 2025 and the petitioner has got no criminal antecedent as disclosed in Para 12 of the petition, 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 Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi, in connection with Complaint Case No.-28946/2025, 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.)

09.01.2026

R.Kumar

2