Patna High Court
Yogendra PaswanversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISMISSED
- Bench
- SANDEEP KUMAR
Holding
The bail application was dismissed.
Summary
The petitioner, Yogendra Paswan, father‑in‑law of the deceased, applied for bail in a case registered in 1998 alleging offences under Sections 498(A), 304(B) and 201/34 of the Indian Penal Code, purportedly involving a dowry‑related murder. The prosecution contends the deceased was killed for dowry, while the petitioner claims she died from a snake bite. The petitioner has been an absconder for nearly thirty years and has been in custody since 15 July 2025. The court noted the seriousness of the charges and the petitioner’s long‑term absconding, and therefore was not inclined to grant bail. The bail application was dismissed, with liberty to re‑apply after material witnesses are examined, and the court clarified that its observations were limited to the bail application and did not prejudice the trial.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted to the petitioner given the serious nature of the offences under the IPC.
- Whether the petitioner’s claim that the death was due to a snake bite affects the bail decision.
Legislation cited
- Indian Penal Code — s. 201, 304B, 34, 498A
Subjects
- bail
- dowry death
- IPC
- absconding
- snake bite
- pre‑trial detention
- Section 498A
- Section 304B
- Section 201
- Section 34
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.19990 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-26 Year-1998 Thana- MUSRIGHRARI District- Samastipur
======================================================
Yogendra Paswan S/o Late Shivdhari Paswan Resident of Village-
Latbasepura, P.S.- Musrigharari, Dist.- Samastipur, Bihar
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Keshav Bhardwaj, Advocate
For the State : Mr.Narendra Kumar Singh, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
2 01-04-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned
APP for the State.
2. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with
Musrigharari P.S. Case No. 26 of 1998 registered for the offence
punishable under Sections 498(A), 304(B) and 201/34 of the
Indian Penal Code.
3. As per the prosecution case, the accused persons
are said to have killed the deceased for dowry.
4. The petitioner is the father-in-law of the deceased.
He is an absconder in a case for almost three decades. He is in
custody since 15.07.2025.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
deceased had died because of snake bite.
6. Considering the allegation and the fact that the
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.19990 of 2026(2) dt.01-04-2026
2/2
petitioner has absconded for the last almost 30 years, I am not
inclined to grant bail to the petitioner.
7. Accordingly, the application stands dismissed with
liberty to the petitioner to renew his prayer for bail after the
material witnesses are examined in the trial.
8. It is, however, clarified that the observations made
herein are limited to the adjudication of the present bail
application and shall not prejudice the case of the petitioner at
any subsequent stage of the trial and this Court has not express
any opinion on the merits of the case.
(Sandeep Kumar, J)
P. Kumar
U T
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