Patna High Court

Ashish RanjanversusThe State of Bihar

Decided: 13 February 2026
Disposal: BAIL GRANTED
Bench: SONI SHRIVASTAVA

Holding

The Court granted anticipatory bail to the petitioner with specified conditions.

Summary

The petitioner, Ashish Ranjan, sought anticipatory bail after an FIR lodged in 2025 alleged his involvement in irregularities related to Panchayat schemes and the construction of a Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan, dating back to 2016. He was accused of offences under IPC sections 406, 409, 419, 420, 467, 468 and 120B, though no misappropriation of funds was alleged. The petitioner had no prior criminal record and pledged cooperation with the investigation. The Court noted the inordinate delay of nine years in filing the FIR and the nature of the alleged irregularity, and consequently granted anticipatory bail subject to a bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties and conditions under Section 438(2) of the Cr.P.C. and Section 482(2) of the B.N.S.S. The order directed that bail be released if the petitioner is arrested or surrenders within four weeks.

Issues considered

What is the appropriateness of granting anticipatory bail in a case involving alleged irregularities in Panchayat construction after a nine‑year delay?
Does the petitioner’s clean criminal record and willingness to cooperate justify bail despite the seriousness of the IPC offences alleged?

Legislation cited

B.N.S.S. — s. 482(2)
Code of Criminal Procedure — s. 438(2)
Indian Penal Code — s. 120B, 406, 409, 419, 420, 467, 468

Subjects

anticipatory bail
delay in FIR
Panchayat scheme irregularities
IPC offences
bail conditions
Criminal Procedure Code

Judgment

                        IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                               CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.11049 of 2026
                        Arising Out of PS. Case No.-175 Year-2025 Thana- MORKAHI District- Khagaria
                 ======================================================
                 Ashish Ranjan S/o Baudeo Sah R/o Village - Rupani, P.S - Chautham, District
                 – Khagaria.                                               ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                 Versus
                 The State of Bihar.                                ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s     :         Mr. Ranjeet Kumar Singh, Advocate
                 For the Opposite Party/s :         Mr. Rajiv Nayan, APP
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. SONI SHRIVASTAVA
                                       ORAL ORDER

2   13-02-2026              Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned APP for

                   the State.

                   2. The petitioner apprehends his arrest for the offences punishable

                   under Sections 406, 409, 419, 420, 467, 468 and 120B of the

                   Indian Penal Code.

                   3.     The allegation in the First Information Report is that the

                   accused persons including the present petitioner committed certain

                   irregularities in the implementation of the various schemes of the

                   Panchayat and also in the construction of Panchayat Sarkar

                   Bhawan.

                   4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the present case

                   relates to an incident of the year 2016 for which an F.I.R. has been

                   lodged, after more than nine years, in the year 2025. Learned

                   counsel for the petitioner further submits that there is no allegation

                   of any misappropriation or embezzlement of fund rather also not

                   that of non-completion of the work but the allegation is confined to

                   irregularity as the supply of materials was taken from one Shadab

                   Traders, who happens to be the son of the Mukhiya, Mustari
            Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.11049 of 2026(2) dt.13-02-2026
                                                         2/2




                      Begam. Further, the said Mustari Begam has already been granted

                      anticipatory bail by this Court vide order dated 04.02.2026 passed

                      in Cr. Misc. No.7616 of 2026. Further, the petitioner has no

                      criminal     antecedent      and     undertakes      to   cooperate   in   the

                      investigation/trial and would not abscond or tamper with the

                      evidence.

                      5.    Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the

                      case and also considering the fact that the present case relates to an

                      irregularity having been committed in the construction of

                      Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan, the case has been lodged after an

                      inordinate delay and the petitioner has no criminal antecedent, let

                      the above named petitioner, be released on bail, in the event of his

                      arrest or surrender before the learned 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 the learned Court below where the case is

                      pending/ successor Court in connection with Morkahi P.S. Case

                      No.175 of 2025, subject to the condition as laid down under

                      Section 438 (2) of the Cr.P.C./482 (2) of the B.N.S.S.


                                                (Soni Shrivastava, J)

Trivedi/-
U       T

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