Urmila Devi Vs The State of Bihar — Dowry and Cruelty | Patna HC (2025)

Urmila Devi Vs The State of Bihar — Dowry and Cruelty | Patna HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail granted: petitioner to surrender before the Court below within four weeks; on arrest or surrender in connection with Pakaridayal P.S. Case No. 316 of 2025, she is to be enlarged on bail on a bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Motihari, East Champaran, subject to the conditions under section 482(2) of B.N.S.S.

Issue for consideration

Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioner, Urmila Devi, who apprehends arrest in Pakaridayal P.S. Case No. 316 of 2025, instituted for offences under Sections 126(2), 115(2), 85, 80 and 3(5) of B.N.S. and Section 3(iv) of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Court's answer

Having heard learned counsel for the parties and considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on (anticipatory) bail.

Ratio / Principle

The petitioner is directed to surrender in the Court below within a period of four weeks from the date of the order.

Key takeaways

In the event of her arrest or surrender in connection with Pakaridayal P.S. Case No. 316 of 2025, the petitioner shall 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 Chief Judicial Magistrate, Motihari, East Champaran, subject to the conditions laid down under section 482(2) of B.N.S.S.ratio¶19

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail - granted. Petitioner Urmila Devi (mother-in-law of the deceased, aged about 53 years) apprehended arrest in Pakridayal P.S. Case No. 316 of 2025, instituted under Sections 126(2), 115(2), 85, 80 and 3(5) of B.N.S. and Section 3(iv) of the Dowry Prohibition Act, arising out of the alleged dowry death of the informant's daughter Punam Kumari, said to have been subjected to cruelty for non-fulfilment of dowry demand of a bullet bike and golden chain and killed on 26.06.2025. Counsel for the petitioner contended that the allegations against her were general and omnibus, the main thrust being against the husband of the deceased, and that she had no criminal antecedent; the learned APP opposed the bail prayer. The Court directed the petitioner to surrender within four weeks and ordered that, on arrest or surrender, she be enlarged on bail on a bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Motihari, East Champaran, subject to the conditions under section 482(2) of B.N.S.S.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.85932 of 2025

Arising Out of PS. Case No.-316 Year-2025 Thana- PAKRIDAYAL District- East Champaran

======================================================

Urmila Devi Wife of Vakil Prasad @ Vakil Bhagat Resident of Village - Majhar Tola,Shiv Nagar , P.S. - Pakridayal, District - East Champaran.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

The State of Bihar

... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mrs. Usha Kumari, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Rajesh Kumar, APP ======================================================

CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK KUMAR PANDEY ORAL ORDER

2 16-12-2025

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned

APP for the State.

The instant application for anticipatory bail has been filed by the petitioner apprehending his arrest in connection with Pakaridayal P.S. Case No. 316 of 2025 instituted for the offence under Sections 126(2), 115(2), 85, 80 and 3(5) of B.N.S. and Section 3(iv) of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

The case of the prosecution is that the daughter of the informant, namely, Punam Kumari (deceased) was married to one Mantu Prasad. She was being subjected to cruelty on account of non fulfillment of dowry demand of a bullet bike and golden chain. On 26.06.2025, all the accused persons have killed the daughter of the informant.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner has submitted that petitioner is innocent and has committed no

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.85932 of 2025(2) dt.16-12-2025 2/2

offence. She has falsely been implicated in this case. She is mother-in-law of the deceased. The nature of allegation is general and omnibus. Main thrust of allegation is against the husband of the deceased. Petitioner is an old lady aged about 53 years. A statement has been made in para-3 of this petition that the petitioner has got no criminal antecedent.

In contra, learned APP appearing for the State has opposed the prayer of bail of the petitioner.

Having heard learned counsel for the parties and in the facts and circumstances of the case as stated above, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail. The petitioner is directed to surrender in the Court below within a period of four weeks from today and in the event of her arrest or surrender in connection with Pakaridayal P.S. Case No. 316 of 2025, he will be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Motihari, East Champaran subject to the conditions as laid down under section 482(2) of B.N.S.S.

(Ashok Kumar Pandey, J)