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Patna High Court

Adil Haider @ BaibhavversusThe State of Bihar

Decided
Disposal
ALLOWED

Holding

Anticipatory bail is denied where a specific accusation is made against the accused, but may be granted where only omnibus allegations exist.

Summary

The petitioners, accused in PS case No. 491 of 2025 for offences under the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, sought anticipatory bail fearing arrest. The FIR alleged that a gang of 20‑25 persons, including the petitioners, assaulted an informant with iron rods and stones, causing grievous injuries. The petitioners argued that the allegations against most of them were omnibus and lacked specific evidence, especially medical corroboration, while only Samad Imam faced a direct accusation. The State, invoking Section 82 of the Criminal Procedure Code, contended that anticipatory bail was not maintainable once a process under that section was issued. The Court, relying on Supreme Court precedent that a proclaimed offender status does not bar anticipatory bail, examined the specificity of the charges and rejected bail for Samad Imam, who was directly implicated. The Court granted bail to the remaining petitioners, subject to conditions under Section 482(2) of the BNS and a four‑week surrender period. The order thus differentiated between specific and omnibus allegations in granting bail.

Issues considered

  • Whether anticipatory bail is maintainable when a process under Section 82 Cr.P.C. has been issued
  • Whether an omnibus allegation without specific participation warrants anticipatory bail
  • Whether the presence of a specific accusation against an accused precludes anticipatory bail

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • anticipatory bail
  • omnibus allegation
  • specific accusation
  • Section 82 Cr.P.C.
  • Section 482(2) BNS
  • proclaimed offender
  • drug trafficking
  • assault
  • grievous injury

Judgment

         IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.17149 of 2026
         Arising Out of PS. Case No.-491 Year-2025 Thana- ISLAMPUR District- Nalanda
     ======================================================
1.    Adil Haider @ Baibhav S/o Late Iftkhar Haider R/o Village - Herthu, P.S -
      Islampur, District - Nalanda
2.   Aquib Haider S/oLate Iftkhar Haider R/o Village - Herthu, P.S - Islampur,
     District - Nalanda

                                                                      ... ... Petitioner/s
                                          Versus
     The State of Bihar

                                            ... ... Opposite Party/s
     ======================================================
                                            with
                CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No. 18171 of 2026
         Arising Out of PS. Case No.-491 Year-2025 Thana- ISLAMPUR District- Nalanda
     ======================================================
1.    Samad Imam S/O Asgar Imam R/O Village- Herthu, P.S- Islampur, Distt.-
      Nalanda.
2.   Afsar Imam @ Asfar Imam S/O Asgar Imam R/O Village- Herthu, P.S-
     Islampur, Distt.- Nalanda.
3.   Afzal Imam @ Saijan S/O Asgar Imam R/O Village- Herthu, P.S- Islampur,
     Distt.- Nalanda.
4.   Farhan Alam @ Abdul Farhan S/O Abdul Khalik @ Raju R/O Village-
     Herthu, P.S- Islampur, Distt.- Nalanda.

                                                                      ... ... Petitioner/s
                                          Versus
     The State of Bihar

                                            ... ... Opposite Party/s
     ======================================================
     Appearance :
     (In CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No. 17149 of 2026)
     For the Petitioner/s     : Mr.Santosh Kumar Sinha 2, Adv.
     For the Informant        : Mr. Sonu Kumar, Adv.
                                Mr. Harsh Vardhan, Adv.
     For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. M. K. Nirala, APP

     (In CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No. 18171 of 2026)
     For the Petitioner/s     : Mr.Anil Kumar Singh, Adv.
     For the Informant        : Mr. Sonu Kumar, Adv.
                                Mr. Harsh Vardhan, Adv.
     For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Mohammad Sufyan, APP
     ======================================================
     CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HARISH KUMAR
         Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.17149 of 2026(5) dt.24-06-2026
                                                     2/6




                                                  ORAL ORDER

5   24-06-2026                  Learned Advocates for the respective parties are

                   present.

                                2. With the consent of the learned Advocates, both the

                   applications arising out of same P.S. case, have been heard

                   together and are being disposed off by this common order.

                                3. Learned Advocate for the petitioners in Cr. Misc.

                   No. 18171 of 2026 seeks permission to make necessary

                   correction in the cause title of the petitioner no. 3.

                                4. Permission is accorded.

                                5. The petitioners are apprehending their arrest in

                   connection with Islampur P.S. Case No. 491 of 2025, registered

                   for the offences punishable under Sections 190, 191(2), 192(3),

                   126(2), 115(2), 109, 303(2), 351(3), 352 of the BNS.

                                6. Based upon the fardbeyan, the prosecution alleges

                   that a gang of 20-25 people, who were indulge in the business

                   of illegal trade of ganja and smack in the localities, they used to

                   give threatening to the villagers that those who will come in the

                   way, they will have to face serious consequences. On

                   13.09.2025, while the informant was returning to his home, in

                   the meanwhile, all the FIR named accused persons, including

                   the petitioners, surrounded him and on the exhortation made by

                   co-accused Asghar Imam, all of them started assaulting brutally.
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.17149 of 2026(5) dt.24-06-2026
                                            3/6




          It is specifically alleged that co-accused Farhan Alam assaulted

          him over his eye by means of stone and jumped over his chest;

          whereas co-accused Samad Imam and Abdullah Khaliq @ Raju,

          who were carrying iron rods in their hands brutally assaulted

          over his head due to which he sustained serious injury. There is

          further allegation of snatching of valuables.

                       7. Learned Advocate for the petitioners taking this

          Court through the FIR primarily contended that the specific

          accusation has been levelled against co-accused Samad Imam

          and Abdullah Khaliq @ Raju and so far the others are

          concerned, there is omnibus nature of allegation. Even if the

          allegation against Farhan Alam of causing assault by means of

          stone is concerned, the same has not been corroborated with the

          medical report. It is further contended that on account of

          previous enmity, a scuffle took place which resulted into some

          unfortunate injuries. Moreover, the allegation that the petitioners

          were members of the gang, who were indulged in the trade of

          illicit liquor/drugs, does not inspire confidence as at no point of

          time any FIR/complaint has been lodged against them with

          respect to any such incident. It is lastly contended that so far

          petitioner no. 2 in Cr. Misc. No. 17149 of 2026 is concerned, he

          bears fair antecedent, whereas petitioner no. 1 bears two
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.17149 of 2026(5) dt.24-06-2026
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          criminal antecedent. So far petitioners of Cr. Misc. No. 18171 of

          2026 are concerned, petitioner no. 1 bears two criminal

          antecedent as has been disclosed in supplementary affidavit,

          whereas petitioner no. 2 bears one criminal antecedent and

          petitioner nos. 3 and 4 have clean antecedent.

                       8. On the other hand, learned Advocates for the State

          and the informant vehemently opposed the prayer for bail. Mr.

          Sonu Kumar, learned Advocate for the informant while

          opposing the prayer for bail submitted that since the petitioners

          were absconding from their arrest, in the meanwhile, process

          under Section 82 of the Cr.P.C. has been issued. Once the

          process has been issued, no anticipatory bail is maintainable is

          the contention of the learned Advocate. It is further contended

          that there is specific accusation against the petitioners of

          participating in the crime and moreover co-accused Samad

          Imam is the person who assaulted over the head of the

          informant which resulted into grievous injury. The accused

          persons also bear criminal antecedent as has been disclosed in

          their respective bail applications/supplementary affidavit.

                       9. Before proceeding further it would be pertinent to

          state here that the Hon’ble Supreme Court ruled that an accused

          being declared a proclaimed offender does not create an
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.17149 of 2026(5) dt.24-06-2026
                                            5/6




          absolute bar against seeking anticipatory bail. The Court must

          assess the nature of the offence and the surrounding

          circumstances. [Asha Dubey Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh:

          2024 SCC OnLine SC 5633]

                       10. Having considered the submissions advanced by

          the learned Advocates for the respective parties and taking note

          of the specific accusation led by the informant that it is Samad

          Imam and co-accused             Abdullah Khaliq @ Raju, who have

          assaulted the informant by means of iron rod due to which he

          sustained grievous injury, this Court is not persuaded to extend

          the privilege of anticipatory bail to the petitioner no. 1 of Cr.

          Misc. 18171 of 2026, namely, Samad Imam, who is facing

          specific accusation.

                       11. Accordingly, the prayer for anticipatory bail   of

          petitioner no. 1 of Cr. Misc. 18171 of 2026, namely, Samad

          Imam stands rejected.

                       12. Let the other petitioners, who are facing omnibus

          allegation and no specific role has been attributed,        except

          petitioner no. 1 of Cr. Misc. 18171 of 2026 namely, Samad

          Imam, be released on bail, in the event of their arrest or

          surrender before the court below within a period of four weeks

          from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order, upon
            Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.17149 of 2026(5) dt.24-06-2026
                                                        6/6




                      furnishing bail bonds of Rs.10,000/- (ten thousand) each with

                      two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the

                      learned        Judicial      Magistrate-III,          1st   Class,      Hilsa,

                      Nalanda/Additional          Chief       Judicial     Magistrate   1st   Hilsa,

                      Nalanda/successor court/concerned court, Hilsa, Nalanda                    in

                      connection with Islampur P.S. Case No. 491 of 2025, subject to

                      the conditions laid down in Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya

                      Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, with the further condition that

                      one of the bailors shall be the own/close family members of the

                      petitioners.

                                   (i) that one of the bailors shall be the own/close

                      family members of the petitioners,

                                   (ii) that the petitioners would not indulge in

                      intimidating the witnesses/informant or tampering with the

                      evidence, and

                                   (iii) that in case, the petitioners shall be found indulge

                      in intimidating the informant/witnesses or tampering with the

                      evidence, the police/informant shall be at liberty to file an

                      application for cancellation of the bail of the petitioners.



                                                  (Harish Kumar, J)
Anjani/-
U       T


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