Patna High Court

Meela DeviversusThe State Of Bihar

Decided: 3 April 2026
Disposal: BAIL GRANTED
Bench: ANIL KUMAR SINHA

Holding

The Court granted anticipatory bail to the petitioner subject to the conditions prescribed under Section 482(2) of the B.N.S.

Summary

Meela Devi, the mother‑in‑law of the informant, applied for anticipatory bail in a dowry‑related domestic violence case (Bidupur P.S. Case No. 705/2024) that alleged physical and mental torture under several sections of the B.N.S. The High Court had earlier rejected her bail application on 1 May 2025. Subsequently, the parties reached an amicable settlement, filing a joint compromise petition on 27 November 2025 indicating that the informant had resumed living with her husband and the petitioner. Both counsel acknowledged the restored relationship. Considering the compromise and the peaceful co‑habitation, the Court inclined to grant anticipatory bail. The petitioner was ordered to be released on anticipatory bail within four weeks upon furnishing a bail bond of Rs. 10,000 with two sureties, subject to Section 482(2) of the B.N.S.

Issues considered

Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioner despite the pending criminal charges, given the parties' amicable settlement and restored relationship

Legislation cited

B.N.S. — s. 109, 115(2), 126(2), 3(5), 352, 85, 89

Subjects

anticipatory bail
dowry harassment
domestic violence
compromise petition
Section 482
criminal procedure

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.10279 of 2026
                       Arising Out of PS. Case No.-705 Year-2024 Thana- BIDUPUR District- Vaishali
                 ======================================================
                 Meela Devi W/O Bhushan Ray R/o Vill.- Manjholi, P.S.- Bidupur, Dist.-
                 Vaishali


                                                                                    ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                        Versus
           1.    The State Of Bihar
           2.    Rajnandani Kumari W/O Rajeev Kumar Ray @ Rajeev Ray R/o Vill.-
                 Manjholi, P.S.- Bidupur, Dist.- Vaishali


                                                        ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :

                 For the Petitioner/s     :        Mr.Anuj Kumar

                 For the Opposite Party/s :        Mr.Brajendra Nath Pandey

                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR SINHA
                                       ORAL ORDER

3   03-04-2026         1. Heard the parties.

                       2. The petitioner has renewed her prayer for anticipatory bail

                   in connection with Bidupur P.S. Case No. 705 / 2024 dated

                   04.11.2024 registered under Section 115(2), 126(2), 109, 89, 85,

                   352, 3(5) of the B.N.S. which was rejected by this Court vide

                   order dated 01.05.2025 passed in Cr. Misc. No. 21884 of 2025.

                       3. The petitioner is the mother-in-law of the informant and

                   the allegation is of physical and mental torture due to non

                   fulfillment of demand of dowry.

                       4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that after
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.10279 of 2026(3) dt.03-04-2026
                                            2/3




          rejection of bail by this court vide order dated 01.05.2025 fresh

          development has taken place and both informant and the

          petitioner along with informant’s husband have come to

          amicable settlement and a joint compromise petition has been

          filed before ADJ-2, Vaishali at Hajipur dated 27.11.2025 stating

          therein that informant has started living with her husband and

          the petitioner. The copy of the compromise petition is annexed

          as Annexure -P/3 Series.

              5. On the other hand, learned counsel for the informant

          submits that it is true that parties have arrived at amicable

          settlement and relationship between the parties have now

          restored.

              6. Considering the fact that relation between the informant,

          petitioner i.e. mother-in-law and the husband has now restored

          and the informant is living peacefully in her matrimonial home,

          accordingly, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the

          petitioner.

              7. Let the petitioner, above named, be released on

          anticipatory bail in the event of arrest or surrender before the

          court below within a period of four weeks from today on

          furnishing bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- (rupees ten thousand) with

          two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of
               Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.10279 of 2026(3) dt.03-04-2026
                                                           3/3




                         C.J.M., Vaishali at Hajipur in connection with Bidupur P.S. Case

                         No. 705 of 2024 subject to the condition as laid down under

                         Section 482 (2) of the B.N.S.S.



                                                  (Anil Kumar Sinha, J)
praful/-

U          T

Continue reading with your account

Checking your session…