Patna High Court
Sanoj Kumar Singh @ Sanoj SinghversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- RAJESH KUMAR VERMA
Holding
The court held that bail should be granted to the petitioner subject to strict conditions.
Summary
Sanoj Kumar Singh was in custody since 8 April 2025 for alleged offences under IPC sections 401, 414, 413/34 and Arms Act sections 25(1‑b)a, 26 and 35, based primarily on the confession of co‑accused Anand Kumar. The petitioner argued that no material other than the co‑accused’s statement linked him to the crime and that he was falsely implicated. The prosecution opposed bail, highlighting six prior criminal antecedents, though two cases resulted in acquittal, two are on bail and two are pending. The court examined the seriousness of the charges, the strength of the evidence, and the petitioner’s criminal record, and decided to grant bail on a bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties, subject to conditions of cooperation, non‑tampering with evidence, and verification of antecedents. The bail order was issued with a warning that failure to comply could lead to cancellation.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted despite serious offences and the petitioner’s prior criminal antecedents
- Whether the testimony of a co‑accused alone is sufficient to justify continued detention
- Whether the conditions imposed on bail adequately safeguard the trial process
Legislation cited
- Arms Act — s. 25(1-b)a, 26, 35
- Indian Penal Code — s. 34, 401, 413, 414
Subjects
- bail
- criminal antecedents
- IPC
- Arms Act
- co‑accused testimony
- pre‑trial detention
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.19470 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-80 Year-2021 Thana- SONEPUR District- Saran
======================================================
Sanoj Kumar Singh @ Sanoj Singh Son of Ravi Singh @ Ravi Nandan R/o -
Village - Parwejabad, P.S. - Sonpur, District - Saran. ... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar ... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Awadhesh Kumar Singh, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Ms. Anita Kumari, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR VERMA
ORAL ORDER
2 31-03-2026 Heard Mr. Awadhesh Kumar Singh, learned counsel
for the petitioner and Ms. Anita Kumari, learned Additional Public
Prosecutor for the State.
2. Petitioner seeks bail who is in custody since
08.04.2025 in connection with Sonepur P.S. Case No. 80 of 2021,
F.I.R. dated 17.02.2021 for the offences punishable under Sections
401, 414, 413/34 of the IPC and Sections 25(1-b)a, 26 and 35 of
the Arms Act.
3. According to prosecution case, this petitioner along
with other accused persons were planning to commit crime but
when the police party reached there then all of them tried to fled
away. However, one Anand Kumar was apprehended who
disclosed the name of the petitioner and other accused persons as
his associates.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner is innocent and he has falsely been implicated in the
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.19470 of 2026(2) dt.31-03-2026
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present case. He further submits that the name of the petitioner
has been transpired on the basis of disclosure made by the
apprehended co-accused person, namely, Anand Kumar and
thereafter, the petitioner has been implicated in almost all the
cases as mentioned in paragraph no. 3 of the bail application. It
appears from the seizure list that the recovery has been made from
the possession of the co-accused person and except the disclosure
made by the apprehended co-accused, no other material has come
during investigation which suggest the involvement of the
petitioner in the present occurrence. He further submits that the
police after investigation submitted the charge sheet against the
petitioner. The petitioner is in custody since 08.04.2025.
5. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor has
vehemently opposed the prayer for bail of the petitioner on the
ground that petitioner carries six criminal antecedents other than
the present one but fairly submits that in two cases he has been
acquitted by the learned Trial Court, in two cases he is on bail and
rest two cases are pending for consideration before the competent
Court of law.
6. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances,
let the petitioner, above named, be released on bail on furnishing
bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- (Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the
like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Chief Judicial
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.19470 of 2026(2) dt.31-03-2026
3/3
Magistrate, Saran at Chapra in connection with Sonepur P.S. Case
No. 80 of 2021, subject to the following conditions:-
i. Petitioner shall co-operate in the trial and shall be
properly represented on each and every date fixed by the court
and shall remain physically present as directed by the court and
on his absence on two consecutive dates without sufficient
reason, his bail bond shall be cancelled by the Court below.
ii. If the petitioner tampers with the evidence or the
witnesses, in that case, the prosecution will be at liberty to move
for cancellation of bail.
iii. And further condition that the court below shall
verify the criminal antecedent of the petitioner and in case at any
stage it is found that the petitioner has concealed his criminal
antecedent, the court below shall take step for cancellation of bail
bond of the petitioner. However, the acceptance of bail bonds in
terms of the above-mentioned order shall not be delayed for
purpose of or in the name of verification.
(Rajesh Kumar Verma, J)
Vanisha/-
U T
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