Rakesh Kumar Singh@ Karu Singh Allias Ramesh Singh Vs State of Jharkhand — Jharkhand HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Rakesh Kumar Singh@ Karu Singh Allias Ramesh Singh Vs State of Jharkhand — Jharkhand HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Appellant directed to surrender in the court below within four weeks; in the event of his arrest or surrender, to be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Sessions Judge-I-(SC/ST) Act, Chatra, subject to conditions under Section 482 B.N.S.S., 2023, and to submit self-attested Aadhaar Card photocopy and an active mobile number; appeal allowed and disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether the bar under Section 18 of the SC/ST (PoA) Act against the grant of anticipatory bail applies where no prima facie offence under the provisions of the Act is made out. +1 more

Court's answer

The embargo under Section 18 of the SC/ST (PoA) Act barring the grant of anticipatory bail would not apply where no prima facie offence under the provisions of the Act is made out.

Ratio / Principle

On hearing the parties and perusal of the records, the dispute is primarily regarding payment of contractual dues and the place of occurrence is not in public view; consequently no prima facie offence under the SC/ST (PoA) Act is made out and the appellant was held entitled to bail relief.

Key takeaways

The appellant was directed to surrender in the court below within four weeks, and in the event of his arrest or surrender he is to be enlarged on bail on furnishing a bail bond of Rs.10,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Sessions Judge-I-(SC/ST) Act, Chatra, subject to the conditions laid down under Section 482 B.N.S.S., 2023, and with further conditions to submit a self-attested photocopy of his Aadhaar Card and an active mobile number not to be changed during pendency without prior permission of the court.ratio¶20

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal appeal under Section 14-A of the SC/ST (PoA) Act against the order dated 19.12.2025 in A.B.P. No.1643 of 2025 of the learned Additional Sessions Judge-I-(SC/ST) Act, Chatra, in connection with Hunterganj P.S. Case No.179 of 2025 (offences under Sections 126(2), 115(2), 131, 352, 351(2) and 132 BNS, 2023 and Sections 3(1)(m), 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) and 3(1)(u) of the SC/ST (PoA) Act). Held: although Section 18 of the SC/ST (PoA) Act bars the grant of anticipatory bail, the embargo does not apply where no prima facie offence under the provisions of the Act is made out; the record showed the dispute to be primarily regarding payment of contractual dues and the place of occurrence not in public view. The appellant was directed to surrender within four weeks and, in the event of arrest or surrender, to be enlarged on bail on a bond of Rs.10,000/- with two like sureties, subject to Section 482 B.N.S.S., 2023 conditions and further conditions as to Aadhaar Card and active mobile number. Appeal allowed and disposed of.

2026:JHHC:19267

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Criminal Appeal (S.J.) No.173 of 2026

Rakesh Kumar Singh @ Karu Singh @ Rakesh Singh aged about 41 years, son of Uday Singh, Resident of Village – Godobar, P.O.+P.S.- Hunterganj, Dist.-Chatra. …. …. Appellant

…. …. Appellant

Versus

1. The State of Jharkhand

2. Nikhil Gaurav Kaman Kacchap, aged about 41 years, S/o – Late Rajdip Kamaan Kacchaap, Resident of Vill – Hunterganj, P.O.+P.S.- Hunterganj, Dist.-Chatra. …. …. Respondents

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR

For the Appellant	---- : Mr. Abhay Kr. Chaturvedy, Adv.
For the State	: Mr. Sanat Kr. Jha, A.P.P.
For the Respondent No.2	: Mr. Nishant Kr. Roy, Adv. ----

06/Dated: 01^st July, 2026

1. The present appeal has been filed under Section 14-A of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

2. Heard learned counsel for the appellant, learned counsel for the State and learned counsel for the respondent No.2. 3. The appeal has been filed against the impugned order dated 19.12.2025 in A.B.P. No.1643 of 2025 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-I-(SC/ST) Act, Chatra in connection with Hunterganj P.S. Case No.179 of 2025, registered for the offence under Sections 126(2), 115(2), 131, 352, 351(2) and 132 BNS, 2023 and under Sections 3(1)(m), 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) and 3(1)(u) of the SC/ST (PoA) Act. The case is presently pending in the court of the learned Additional Sessions Judge-I-(SC/ST) Act, Chatra.

4. Although Section 18 of the SC/ST (PoA) Act bars the grant of anticipatory bail, such embargo would not apply where no prima facie offence under the provisions of the Act is made out.

5. It has been submitted by the learned counsel for the appellant that primarily a dispute arose between the Contractor and the Block

2026:JHHC:19267

Development Officer, Chatra regarding the measurement of work and payment of dues. Even the place of occurrence is not in public view and as such no offence under SC/ST (PoA) Act is made out. On the above basis, the prayer for bail has been made.

6. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State and learned counsel for the Respondent No.2 have opposed the prayer for bail stating that he bas been abused and as such prohibition of Section 18 of the SC/ST (PoA) Act gets attracted. 7. Having heard the parties and from perusal of the records, it appears that there is primarily a dispute regarding payment of contractual dues and even the place of occurrence is not in public view.

8. Considering the above facts, the appellant, above named, is directed to surrender in the court below within four weeks from the date of receipt/ production of the copy of this order and in the event of his arrest or surrender, he shall be enlarged 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-(SC/ST) Act, Chatra in connection with Hunterganj P.S. Case No.179 of 2025 on the conditions as laid down under Section 482 B.N.S.S., 2023 . Further, the appellant will submit self-attested photocopy of his Aadhaar Card and also submit his mobile number before the learned court below which he will always keep active and will not change it during pendency of this case without prior permission of the court.

9. In the result, the instant appeal stands allowed and accordingly disposed of.

(Rajesh Kumar, J.)

Dated: 01^st July, 2026 Amar/Uploaded on 02.07.2026

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Criminal Appeal (S.J.) No.173 of 2026