Bilash Mandal Vs The State of Bihar — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Patna HC (2026)

Bilash Mandal Vs The State of Bihar — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Patna HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail allowed: petitioners to be released on bail upon arrest or surrender before the Court below within six weeks, on bail bonds of Rs.10,000/- each with two sureties of the like amount to each, to the satisfaction of the learned A.C.J.M.-2nd, Purnia, in Mohanpur P.S. Case No.119 of 2025, subject to the conditions in Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioners, who apprehend arrest in Mohanpur P.S. Case No.119 of 2025 (under Sections 103(1), 238 and 3(5) of the B.N.S., 2023, concerning the hanging death of the informant's sister allegedly linked to dowry demand), should be granted anticipatory bail.

Court's answer

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the submissions of learned counsel for the parties, the nature of allegation against the petitioners and their clean antecedent, the petitioners are to be released on bail upon arrest or surrender before the Court below within six weeks, on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.10,000/- each with two sureties of the like amount to each, to the satisfaction of the learned A.C.J.M.-2nd, Purnia, in connection with Mohanpur P.S. Case No.119 of 2025, subject to the conditions laid down in Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Patna High Court (Sunil Dutta Mishra, J), by oral order dated 17-07-2026 in Criminal Miscellaneous No.32608 of 2026, allowed the prayer for anticipatory bail of petitioners Bilash Mandal, Suman Kumar and Bhawesh Kumar apprehending arrest in Mohanpur P.S. Case No.119 of 2025 (District Purnia), instituted under Sections 103(1), 238 and 3(5) of the B.N.S., 2023. The prosecution case alleges that the informant's sister Seema Kumari, married 12 years earlier to co-accused Pawan Kumar amid dowry-demand harassment, was found dead by hanging on 19.10.2025 with the body hidden, the informant suspecting murder by the petitioners and other co-accused. Taking note of the nature of allegation and the petitioners' clean antecedent (as argued, petitioner no.1 being the deceased's father-in-law and nos. 2 & 3 her brothers-in-law, students/aged, with the husband co-accused in custody since 30.01.2026), the Court directed release upon surrender or arrest within six weeks on bail bonds of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) each with two sureties of the like amount to each, to the satisfaction of the learned A.C.J.M.-2nd, Purnia, subject to the conditions laid down in Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.32608 of 2026

Arising Out of PS. Case No.-119 Year-2025 Thana- Mohanpur District- Purnia

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

1. Bilash Mandal S/o Bachchi Mandal R/o Vill. - Jangal Tola, P.S. - Mohanpur, Dist. - Purnea.

1. Suman Kumar S/o Bilash Mandal R/o Vill. - Jangal Tola, P.S. - Mohanpur, Dist. - Purnea.

1. Bhawesh Kumar S/o Bilash Mandal R/o Vill. - Jangal Tola, P.S. - Mohanpur, Dist. - Purnea.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

The State of Bihar

... ... Opposite Party/s

====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Akash Anand, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Satya Nand Shukla, A.P.P. ======================================================

CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUNIL DUTTA MISHRA ORAL ORDER

3 17-07-2026

Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned A.P.P. for the State.

The petitioners apprehend their arrest in connection with Mohanpur P.S. Case No.119 of 2025 instituted under Sections 103(1), 238 and 3(5) of the B.N.S., 2023.

As per the prosecution case, the informant has alleged that his sister Seema Kumari was married 12 years ago with co-accused Pawan Kumar, who harassed her from time to time due to dowry demand. It is further alleged that on 19.10.2025 at about 7 A.M., informant got information from coaccused Pawan Kumar that his sister had died by hanging

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.32608 of 2026(3) dt.17-07-2026 2/3

herself. Upon reaching there, he found that the body was hidden somewhere. He suspects that petitioners along with other coaccused persons have murdered her sister and they also abused and threatened to kill the informant when he asks questions.

Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that petitioners are innocent and have been falsely implicated in this case only on the basis of suspicion. Petitioner no.1 is father-inlaw and petitioner nos.2 & 3 are brother-in-laws of the deceased. He further submits that the marriage of the deceased with co-accused, Pawan Kumar was solemnized 12 years ago and they were living separately. Petitioners have no concern with the matrimonial affairs of the deceased and her husband. The husband of the deceased, namely co-accused Pawan Kumar is in custody since 30.01.2026. There is no specific allegation against the petitioners. He further submits that petitioner no.1 is an aged person whereas, petitioner nos.2 & 3 are students, preparing for competitive examination. They have no criminal antecedent and they undertake to cooperate in the investigation and trial of the case.

Learned A.P.P. for the State opposes the prayer for anticipatory bail.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.32608 of 2026(3) dt.17-07-2026 3/3

case, submissions of learned counsel for the parties and the nature of allegation against the petitioners as well as their clean antecedent, in the event of arrest or surrender before the Court below within six weeks from today, the petitioners be released on bail upon furnishing bail bonds of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) each with two sureties of the like amount to each to the satisfaction of the learned A.C.J.M.-2^nd , Purnia in connection with Mohanpur P.S. Case No.119 of 2025, subject to the conditions laid down in Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

(Sunil Dutta Mishra, J)

Utkarsh.k/-

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