Surendra Mahto v. The State of Bihar
Case brief
What is this about?
Patna High Court, CRIMINAL APPEAL (SJ) No.5152 of 2024, decided 12-03-2026 by Sandeep Kumar, J. Appellants Surendra Mahto and Prince Mahto versus The State of Bihar and Rekha Devi (informant no. 2). Allegations: sale of land previously sold by the appellants' agnates and abuse of the informant by addressing caste name. FIR: Panapur P.S. Case No. 289 of 2024 under Sections 126(2), 115, 352, 351(2), 3(5) BNS 2023 and Section 3(i)(r)(s) SC/ST Act. Held: FIR disclosed no offence committed on the ground of the informant's SC/ST membership; prosecution mala fide; anticipatory bail application maintainable; appeal allowed and rejection order dated 07.10.2024 (ABP No. 3477 of 2024) set aside; release on bail on Rs. 10,000/- bonds each with two sureties, conditioned on production of a Rs. 1,00,000/- demand draft in favour of Respondent No. 2. Keywords: anticipatory bail, SC/ST Act, mala fide prosecution, caste abuse, BNS 2023, Section 438(2) Cr. P.C., Section 482(2) BNSS.