Sargun Rajbanshi Vs the State of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.3754 of 2024

Arising Out of PS. Case No.-711 Year-2020 Thana- NAWADA District- Nawada

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Sargun Rajbanshi Son of Ramswarup Rajbanshi @ Ramswarup Ram, Resident of Village - Karam Tola Mithapur, P.S. - Akbarpur, District-Nawada at present Resident of Village - Dobhrapur, P.S. - Nawada (Bundelkhand), District - Nawada

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... ... Petitioner/s

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Versus

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The State of Bihar ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Hansraj, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s : Ms. Anita Kumari, APP ======================================================

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CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HARISH KUMAR ORAL ORDER

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3 01-03-2024

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Heard Mr. Hansraj, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State.

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This is the second attempt of the petitioner for grant of bail, who is in custody in connection with Sessions Trial No. 04 of 2021 arising out of Nawada Town (Bundelkhand O.P.) P.S. Case No. 711 of 2020, initially registered for the offences punishable under Sections 396 and 397 of the Indian Penal Code and subsequently added with Section 412 of the Indian Penal Code.

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Earlier, the prayer for bail of the petitioner was negatived by this Court vide order dated 20.06.2022 in Criminal Miscellaneous No. 29587 of 2021, after taking into

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Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.3754 of 2024(3) dt.01-03-2024 2/4

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consideration the confession of the petitioner, leading to recovery of the looted articles, apart from the fact that the prayer for bail of the co-accused having similar allegation has been turned down by this Court.

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Learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that irrespective of the fact that the prayer for bail of the petitioner was earlier rejected on merit, however, certain facts cannot be ignored that the name of the petitioner was transpired on the confessional statement of the co-accused, barring the fact that the certain incriminating articles were recovered from the house of the petitioner, which were later on identified by the informant leading to his arrest. Moreover, the petitioner has been incarcerated since 13.08.2020. He next submits that one of the co-accused persons, namely, Ballam @ Balma Kumar, whose name was transpired on the confessional statement of coaccused and he was in judicial custody since 30.08.2020, has been allowed the privilege of bail by a learned co-ordinate Bench of this Court vide order dated 08.09.2023 passed in Cr. Misc. No. 16608 of 2023, the copy of which has been placed before this Court and the same is taken on record. He lastly submits that so far the trial is concerned, till date out of twenty five charge-sheet witnesses, only eight have been examined and

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Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.3754 of 2024(3) dt.01-03-2024 3/4

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there is no likelihood of the conclusion of the trial in near future.

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On the other hand, learned counsel for the State, vehemently submits that looted articles were recovered from the house of the petitioner and his complicity cannot be denied, apart from the fact, the petitioner is also carrying two criminal antecedents over his head.

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Regard being had to the submissions made on behalf of the parties and considering the period of incarceration and the status of the trial, which makes apparent that till date, out of twenty five charge-sheet witnesses, only eight witnesses have been examined, and as such, submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner finds force that there is no likelihood of the conclusion of the trial in near future, let the petitioner, named above, be released on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.20,000/- (Twenty thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Additional District & Sessions Judge-II, Nawada in connection with Sessions Trial No. 04 of 2021 arising out of Nawada Town (Bundelkhand O.P.) P.S. Case No. 711 of 2020, subject to the condition that one of the bailors will be the close relatives of the petitioner with further conditions which are as follows:-

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Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.3754 of 2024(3) dt.01-03-2024 4/4

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(i) The petitioner will cooperate in conclusion of

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the trial.

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(ii) He will remain present on each and every date

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of trial till disposal of the case.

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(iii) He will not try to tamper with the evidence or