Patna High Court
Mani Kant KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- PRABHAT KUMAR SINGH
Holding
The Court allowed the petition for anticipatory bail, granting it subject to conditions.
Summary
The Patna High Court considered an application for anticipatory bail filed by Mani Kant Kumar, who was implicated in a complaint case alleging offences under IPC sections 406, 420, 467, 471 and 120B relating to alleged misappropriation of temple advertising revenue. The prosecution alleged that the petitioner, together with co‑accused Nagendra Das and Shahnawaz Ali, had installed hoardings in a temple, received income and deposited it in the petitioner’s personal account. The petitioner contended that he was innocent, being implicated only because of his relationship with Nagendra Das, and highlighted his clean antecedents. The State and the complainant opposed the bail, arguing the seriousness of the charges. The Court, noting the general and omnibus nature of the accusations, the petitioner’s clean record and the principle of parity, granted anticipatory bail subject to a bond of Rs 10,000 and two sureties, invoking Section 482 of the B.N.S.S., 2023.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioner under Section 482 of the B.N.S.S., 2023 in view of the allegations under IPC sections 406, 420, 467, 471 and 120B.
Legislation cited
- B.N.S.S., 2023 — s. 482
- Indian Penal Code — s. 120B, 406, 420, 467, 471
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- Indian Penal Code
- Section 482
- temple management
- corruption
- criminal procedure
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.17740 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-2421 Year-2024 Thana- PATNA COMPLAINT CASE District-
Patna
======================================================
Mani Kant Kumar S/o Nagendra Das RO Rajapur Pul, Gate No 29, Shri
Ramjanki, Siya Bihari Kunj Thakurbari, PS- Shri Krishnapuri, District- Patna
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar
2. Saurabh Kumar Singh Son of Late Gorakh Prasad Singh, Resident of
Mohalla - Rajapur p.s.- Srikrishnapuri District Patna pin code 800001 at
present secretary sri Ramjank Siya Bihar Kunj Thakurbari Nyas Samiti
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner : Mr. Rudrank Shivam Singh, Advocate
For the State : Mr. Satyendra Prasad, APP
For the Complainant : Mr. Achyatanand Upadhyay, Advocate
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PRABHAT KUMAR SINGH
ORAL ORDER
2 08-04-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned
A.P.P. for the State and learned counsel for the
complainant/Opposite Party No. 2.
2. The petitioner apprehends his arrest in Complaint
Case No. 2421(C) of 2024, punishable for the offence under
Sections 406, 420, 467, 471 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code.
3. The prosecution case, in brief, is that co-accused
Nagendra Das, who is Pujari and Member of the Managing
Committee of Sri Ram Janki Siya Bihari Kunj Thakurbari
Nyash Samittee along with this petitioner and co-accused
Shahnawaz Ali, proprietor of Pooja Advertising Company,
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.17740 of 2026(2) dt.08-04-2026
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committed illegal acts relating to temple management.
Following complaints by co-villagers, the Bihar Rajya Dharmic
Nyash Parishad conducted an inspection, found the allegations
to be true and constituted a new committee of 11 members.
Despite directions of the committee to submit details of temple
income and expenditure, co-accused Nagendra Das allegedly
failed to comply the direction. It was found that advertising
hoardings were installed in the temple premises and an
agreement was executed between this petitioner and Pooja
Advertising Company. Investigation revealed that income from
the hoardings was deposited into the personal account of
petitioner and was misused.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner is quite innocent and has committed no offence.
Petitioner has falsely been implicated in this case merely
because he happens to be son of co-accused Nagendra Das. The
present complaint has been filed by Secretary of Shri Ram Janki
Siya Bihari Kunj Thakurbari Mandir against petitioner and
other accused persons only with a view to malign the reputation
of petitioner. So far as allegation of getting a portion of the
Matha registered in the name of co-accused is concerned, it is
pertinent to mention here that said land was earlier registered in
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.17740 of 2026(2) dt.08-04-2026
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the name of Mahanth Baidehi Nandani and after his death, same
was transferred in the name of his disciple Mahanth Baidehi
Sharan and thereafter following the same tradition, as part of
Guru-Shishya Parampara, the land was registered in the name
of co-accused Nagendra Das by virtue of being his disciple,
which was finally registered on 04.01.2006. Co-accused
Nagendra Das has already been granted privilege of anticipatory
bail by this Hon’ble Court vide order dated 27.02.2026 passed
in Cr. Misc. No. 14439 of 2026. Petitioner claims clean
antecedent.
5. Learned A.P.P. for the State and learned counsel for
the complainant/Opposite Party No. 2 have vehemently opposed
the prayer for anticipatory bail to the petitioner.
6. In the facts and circumstances of the case, general
and omnibus nature of accusation, claim based on parity and
clean antecedents of the petitioner, the prayer for anticipatory
bail of petitioner is allowed.
7. Accordingly, in the event of arrest/surrender before
the Trial Court within a period of eight weeks from today, let the
above named petitioner be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail-
bond of Rs. 10,000/- (ten thousand) with two sureties of the like
amount each to the satisfaction of learned Chief Judicial
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.17740 of 2026(2) dt.08-04-2026
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Magistrate, Patna in connection with Complaint Case No.
2421(C) of 2024, subject to condition as laid down under
Section 482 of the B.N.S.S., 2023.
(Prabhat Kumar Singh, J)
shashank/-
U T
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