Rautu Kerai through Natural Guardian Namely… — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Jharkhand HC (2026)

Rautu Kerai through Natural Guardian Namely… — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Jharkhand HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Release of the juvenile appellant on bail upon furnishing a bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each, one bailor being a close relative of the appellant; the criminal appeal allowed and disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether the appellant, a juvenile in conflict with law whose prayer for bail had been rejected by the Special Judge (Children Court), should be released on bail.

Court's answer

Considering the social investigation report, the Court directed that the appellant be released on bail on his furnishing a bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Ten thousand).

Ratio / Principle

The release is to be secured by two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of the Additional Sessions Judge-I-cum-Special Judge (Children Court), West Singhbhum at Chaibasa, in connection with Children Case No.09 of 2025 arising out of Jagannathpur P.S. Case No.35 of 2024.

Key takeaways

Bail is subject to the condition that one of the bailors will be a close relative of the appellant.ratio¶13

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Appeal (S.J.) No.1041 of 2025, High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi, decided 15.06.2026 by Rajesh Kumar, J. — Appeal by a 17-year-old juvenile in conflict with law (Rautu Kerai), represented through his mother/natural guardian Balema Kerai, against rejection of his bail prayer (order dated 13.08.2025) by the Additional Sessions Judge-I-cum-Special Judge (Children Court), West Singhbhum at Chaibasa, in Misc. Criminal Application No.1130 of 2025 in connection with Children Case No.09 of 2025 arising out of Jagannathpur P.S. Case No.35 of 2024 registered under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. The juvenile had been in custody since 16.05.2024; three of six charge-sheeted witnesses, including the hostile informant eye-witness, had already been examined. Considering the social investigation report, the Court directed release on bail on a bond of Rs.10,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each, one bailor to be a close relative of the appellant. Appeal allowed and disposed of; assistance of Ms. Sushmita Kumari, learned Amicus Curiae, appreciated.

2026:JHHC:17200

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Criminal Appeal (S.J.) No.1041 of 2025

....

Rautu Kerai, aged about 17 years, S/o Late Markando Kerai @ Foto Kerai, through natural guardian namely, Balema Kerai ( Mother of the appellant), aged about 34 years, wife of Late Markando Kerai @ Foto Kerail, Resident of Village Belposi, P.O. Jainthgarh, P.S. Jagannathpur, District Singhbhum (West)

.… Appellant

Versus

The State of Jharkhand CORAM: HON’BL	.... Respondent .... E MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR
For the Appellant	: Mr. Anjani Kumar, Adv.
For the State	: Mrs. Bhola Nath Ojha, A.P.P.
For the Informant	: Ms. Sushmita Kumari, Adv. ....

05/15.06.2026

Heard learned counsels for the parties.

The present appeal has been filed against the order dated 13.08.2025 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge-I-cum-Special Judge (Children Court), West Singhbhum at Chaibasa, in Misc. Criminal Application No.1130 of 2025 in connection with Children Case No.09 of 2025, arising out of Jagannathpur P.S. Case No.35 of 2024, registered for the offence under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code by which prayer for bail of the appellant has been rejected. The case is pending before the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge-I-cum-Special Judge (Children Court), West Singhbhum at Chaibasa.

The juvenile in conflict with law, is in custody since 16.05.2024, has approached this Court for release through his mother who is ready and willing to keep her child under her custody with proper care. It has been submitted by learned counsel for the appellant that out of six charge-sheeted witnesses, three have already been examined including the informant, who is the eye-witness and has also been declared hostile.

Learned counsel for the State has opposed the prayer for bail.

Considering the social investigation report, the appellant is directed to be released on bail on his furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Additional Sessions Judge-I-cum-Special Judge (Children Court), West Singhbhum at Chaibasa in connection with Children Case No.09 of 2025, arising out of Jagannathpur P.S. Case No.35 of 2024, subject to the condition that one of the bailors will be the close relatives of this appellant.

2026:JHHC:17200

Accordingly, instant criminal appeal is allowed and disposed of.

The assistance given by Ms. Sushmita Kumari, learned Amicus Curiae,

is highly appreciable.

(Rajesh Kumar, J.)

15.06.2026

Raja/Uploaded on 16.06.2026

2 Criminal Appeal (S.J.) No. 1041 of 2025