Patna High Court
Md. RiyazversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- SATYAVRAT VERMA
Holding
The Court allowed the anticipatory bail application, subject to bond and surety conditions, under Section 482(2) of the BNSS.
Summary
The petitioner, Kumar Navneet, sought anticipatory bail after being implicated in a FIR alleging offences under Sections 201, 304B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code relating to a dowry demand and the alleged murder of his daughter-in-law. He contended that the dowry money received was not a dowry, that his wife died of natural causes, and that the FIR was filed after an unreasonable delay, indicating false implication. The State opposed the bail, arguing the seriousness of the charges. The High Court, considering the petitioner's clean antecedent and the circumstances raised, granted anticipatory bail subject to a bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties and a condition that the bail may be cancelled if he fails to cooperate with the investigation. The order was made under the inherent powers of the Court under Section 482(2) of the BNSS.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail can be granted to the petitioner despite allegations under IPC Sections 201, 304B and 34.
- Whether the delay in filing the FIR and the claim of natural death affect the grant of bail.
- Whether the receipt of Rs.1 lakh constitutes a dowry demand under the law.
Legislation cited
- BNSS — s. 482(2)
- Indian Penal Code — s. 201, 304B, 34
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- dowry death
- IPC Section 304B
- IPC Section 201
- IPC Section 34
- high court inherent powers
- bail conditions
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.12574 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-553 Year-2024 Thana- AGAMKUAN District- Patna
======================================================
KUMAR NAVNEET @ KUMAR NAVENEET Son of Sandesh Prasad Singh
Resident of Village - Mohanpur, P.S.- Punpun, District - Patna at present
residing of Mahatma Gandhi Nagar, Plastic Factory Road, P.S.- Agamkuan,
District - Patna.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar
2. Renu Singh Wife of Yogeshwar Prasad Singh Resident of village - Rampur,
P.S.- Dhanarua, District - Patna.
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Rakesh Mohan Singh, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Ms. Gulnar Begum, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
ORAL ORDER
2 23-03-2026 1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and
learned A.P.P. for the State, Ms. Gulnar Begum.
2. The petitioner apprehends his arrest in a case
registered for the offences punishable under Sections 201, 304-
B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner is a person with clean antecedent and the informant
alleges that her daughter was married to the petitioner in the
year 2011, after marriage, the accused persons were demanding
a car and on account of nonfulfillment of demand, the victim
was tortured, further out of the wedlock, two daughters were
born, but all the expenses were borne by the informant, further
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alleges that on 04.06.2022, an amount of Rs. 1 Lakh was
transferred in the account of the petitioner, on account of dowry
demand, next alleges that informant received an information on
12.09.2023 that the accused persons including the petitioner
have killed her daughter and have disposed the dead body,
accordingly, she went to the house of the petitioner, but was not
allowed to enter the house.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner, being husband,, has been falsely implicated in the
instant case by the informant, it is next submitted that marriage
of the petitioner with the deceased was performed in the year
2011 and the instant FIR came to be instituted in the year 2024
and the wife of the petitioner died on 10.09.2023. It is next
submitted that in between 2011 till 09.09.2023, no case ever
came to be instituted either by the informant or the deceased
alleging demand of dowry and torture. It is further submitted
that no doubt an amount of Rs. 1 Lakh was credited in the
account of the petitioner, but then that was not on account of
any dowry demand. It is next submitted that no prudent person
would accept money on account of dowry in his own account
and thus would create evidence against himself. It is further
submitted that his wife died a natural death and thereafter the
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body was cremated after getting it certified by the doctor based
on which death certificate of the deceased was issued by the
Government of Bihar, Department of Planning and Developing,
Kankarbagh Circle, Patna Municipal Corporation. It is further
submitted that had the death been unnatural in that event the
death certificate would not have been issued. It is also submitted
that the informant herself alleges in the FIR that she was
informed that her daughter was killed on 10.09.2023, but still
the FIR was instituted on 07.07.2024 i.e. after a delay of more
than 10 months which amply explains that by way of
afterthought, the instant FIR came to be instituted. It is next
submitted that petitioner will not abscond rather will cooperate
in the investigation to prove his innocence.
5. Learned A.P.P. for the State opposes the
anticipatory bail application of the petitioner.
6. Considering the submissions made by the learned
counsel for the petitioner, the petitioner above-named, in the
event of his arrest or surrender within a period of six weeks
from today, be released on anticipatory bail on furnishing bail
bonds of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties
of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned trial
court where the case is pending/successor court in connection
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with Agamkuan P.S. Case No. 553 of 2024 subject to the
conditions as laid down under Section 482 (2) of BNSS.
7. However, it is made clear that in the event if the
Investigating Officer of the case files an application before the
learned Trial Court bringing to its notice that petitioner despite
giving assurance to this Court is not co-operating in the
investigation, in that event the learned Trial Court shall be at
liberty to cancel the bail bonds of the petitioner.
8. Let a copy of this order be sent to the concerned
police station through the learned Trial Court.
9. Accordingly, the instant anticipatory bail
application stands allowed.
(Satyavrat Verma, J)
Rishabh/-
U T
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