The Patna High Court granted anticipatory bail to the petitioners (mother-in-law and married daughters-in-law) arrested under Section 304(B) IPC for dowry death, subject to conditions including cooperation in investigation and appearance in court.
Release on anticipatory bail of Rs. 10,000/- each with two sureties, subject to conditions.
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.25122 of 2022
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-198 Year-2021 Thana- JADOPUR District- Gopalganj
======================================================
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Sanjeev Kumar, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.A.G ======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY ORAL ORDER
3 18-01-2023 Heard Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioners and learned APP for the State.
The petitioners apprehend their arrest in connection with Jadopur P.S. Case No. 198 of 2021 for the offence registered under Sections 304(B) and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
As per the prosecution story, the informant submitted written report alleging that her daughter was married with one Kaushar Alam and at the time of marriage dowry was given. Later, a four wheeler was demanded, in between, the couple was also blessed with a female child. The allegation is that a day
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.25122 of 2022(3) dt.18-01-2023 2/4
before she was beaten by her in-laws on 17.12.2021, when she send her son he was also abused and later on 20.12.2021, they got information from the police regarding the death of her daughter due to hanging. Accordingly, the FIR.
Learned counsel for the petitioners with the help of the averment made in the petition stated that the lady was not happy because her husband was out of the country for his livelihood, was in depression and which may have led her taking extreme steps of committing suicide. The further submission is that while the petitioner no. 1 is the mother-inlaw, the petitioner no.2 and petitioner no. 3 are married sistersin-law (Nanad) residing in Uttarakhand with husband/in-laws and had nothing to do with the alleged occurrence.
Further, the attention of this Court was taken to the Inquest Report which is part of the FIR to show that the police was called by the in-laws and they broke open the door and found the girl hanging with a fan which shows their bona fide.
Learned APP for the State submits that if it is a case of suicide, the family members cannot exonerate themselves from the responsibility.
Taking into account the fact that all the petitioners are ladies, the petitioner no. 1 is an aged mother-in-law, the other
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petitioners are married sisters-in-law (Nanad), as per the FIR, the lady committed suicide, criminal case has already been lodged and ultimately they will have to face the trial, if cognizance is/are taken against them, this Court is inclined to extend them benefit of anticipatory bail with certain conditions:
(i) the petitioners shall co-operate in the investigation and made themselves available to the police as and when required;
(ii) the petitioners shall in no way try to induce or promise or threat the witnesses or tamper with the evidences, failing which the State shall be at liberty to take steps for cancellation of their bail bonds;
(iii) the petitioners shall appear on each and every date before the Trial Court and failure to do so for two consecutive dates without plausible reason will entail cancellation of their bail bonds.
Let the petitioners in the event of arrest or surrender within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of the order, shall be released on anticipatory bail on furnishing bail of Rs. 10,000/- (ten thousand) each with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gopalganj in connection with Jadopur P.S. Case No.
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198 of 2021 subject to condition as laid down under Section 438(2) of the Cr.P.C.
(Rajiv Roy, J)
Jagdish/Neha/-
U T
1 issue framed by the court
Whether the petitioners are entitled to anticipatory bail in connection with an allegation of dowry death.
1 provisions across 1 enactments
NOORJAHAN KHATOON
Ajmeri Khatoon
Noortara Khatoon
The State of Bihar
RAJIV ROY
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
