Patna High Court
Balram KewatversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL REJECTED
- Bench
- PRABHAT KUMAR SINGH
Holding
The Court denied regular bail to the petitioner.
Summary
Balram Kewat was arrested in connection with a dowry‑death case (PS‑224/2025) where the prosecution alleged that he married the informant’s daughter in 2020 and later participated in her murder by burning, following a dowry demand. The prosecution presented confessional statements from the petitioner and co‑accused, along with physical evidence such as bone ashes and a matchbox. The petitioner, in custody since 27‑04‑2025, applied for regular bail under Sections 80(2), 238 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The High Court, after hearing counsel, rejected the bail application, finding the circumstances warranted continued detention. The Court also directed the trial court to expedite the trial and conclude it within one year of receiving the order.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail should be granted to the accused in a dowry‑death case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — s. 238, 3(5), 80(2)
Subjects
- bail
- dowry death
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
- regular bail
- confessional statement
- evidence
- trial expediting
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.19761 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-224 Year-2025 Thana- RAHUI District- Nalanda
======================================================
Balram Kewat S/O Radhe Shyam Kewat R/O Village- Mandilpur, P.S.- Rahui
District- Nalanda
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Raj Kishor Prasad, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Umeshanand Pandit, A.P.P.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PRABHAT KUMAR SINGH
ORAL ORDER
2 01-05-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned
A.P.P. for the State.
2. Petitioner seeks regular bail in connection with
Rahui P. S. Case No. 224 of 2025 registered for the offences
punishable under Sections 80(2), 238, 3(5) of the Bharatiya
Nyaya Sanhita.
3. Prosecution case, in brief, is that marriage of the
daughter of informant was solemnized with this petitioner in the
year 2020 and thereafter, it is alleged that all the F.I.R. named
accused persons including this petitioner killed the daughter of
informant by burning her, due to non-fulfillment of demand of
dowry. During investigation, in the confessional statement of
this petitioner and other co-accused persons, they admitted
the crime and on their confessional statements, some residues of
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.19761 of 2026(2) dt.01-05-2026
2/2
bone ashes, match box etc. were recovered. Petitioner is in
custody since 27.04.2025.
4. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances
of the case, prayer for bail of the petitioner is rejected.
5. However, since petitioner is in custody since
27.04.2025, Trial Court is directed to expedite and conclude the
trial, preferably, within a period of one year from the date of
receipt/production of copy of this order.
(Prabhat Kumar Singh, J)
Navya/-
U T
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