Saroja Devi @ Saroja Kumari @ Raroja Kumari v. The State of Bihar
Pre-arrest bail – IPC Sections 406, 420, 504, 506/34
Case brief
What is this about?
Patna High Court, Criminal Miscellaneous No.3904 of 2025, decided 12-05-2025 by Justice Purnendu Singh (oral order). Petitioner Saroja Devi @ Saroja Kumari @ Raroja Kumari sought pre-arrest bail in Dariyapur P.S. Case No.171 of 2023 (Saran) under IPC Sections 406, 420, 504 and 506/34 for alleged taking of money without executing sale-deed. Counsel for petitioner offered refund of Rs.2,40,000/-; informant's counsel claimed Rs.6,80,000/- payable out of Rs.9,20,000/- agreed for 2.5 katha land. Both sides favoured mediation. Following Bimla Tiwari vs. State of Bihar & Ors., SLP (Crl.) Nos. 834-835 of 2023 (Apex Court), the Court directed that the parties may seek mediation via the district court or settle amicably, and the bail application was disposed of. Keywords: anticipatory bail, mediation/settlement, cheating, criminal breach of trust, refund of sale consideration.
What did the court decide?
Pre-arrest bail application disposed of with observation and direction that both parties may seek mediation either by the order of the learned district court or resolve their dispute amicably; no express order granting or refusing anticipatory bail on merits.