Patna High Court
Geeta Devi @ Lalmati DeviversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- SANDEEP KUMAR
Holding
The court granted bail to the petitioners subject to a bond and sureties.
Summary
The petitioners, Geeta Devi and Kamlesh Yadav, applied for bail in a case registered under Sections 80 and 3(5) of the BNS for the alleged murder of a deceased relative. The prosecution alleged that the petitioners, who are in‑laws of the deceased, killed her, while the defence argued that the death was a suicide arising from a disputed marriage arrangement and that the post‑mortem showed no external injuries. The petitioners had been in custody since 26‑11‑2025. The court examined the bail criteria under the cited provisions and noted that the allegations did not, on the face of it, preclude the grant of bail. Consequently, the court allowed the bail application, directing the petitioners to furnish a bail bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties and to cooperate with the trial proceedings. The order was limited to the bail question and did not prejudice the merits of the trial.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted to the petitioners under Sections 80 and 3(5) of the BNS in view of the murder allegations and the claim of suicide.
Legislation cited
- BNS — s. 3(5), 80
Subjects
- bail
- murder
- suicide
- Sections 80
- Section 3(5)
- BNS
- criminal procedure
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.20057 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-649 Year-2025 Thana- KATEYA District- Gopalganj
======================================================
1. Geeta Devi @ Lalmati Devi W/o Kamlesh Yadav Resident of Village -
Bhathawa Khurd @ Bhatwa Khurd @ Koesa Bhatwa, PS - Kateya, District
-Gopalganj
2. Kamlesh Yadav S/o Late Chhangur Chaudhary @ Chhangur Yadav Resident
of Village - Bhathawa Khurd @ Bhatwa Khurd @ Koesa Bhatwa, PS -
Kateya, District -Gopalganj
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Sanjay Kumar Pandey No.5
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Ajay Kumar Jha
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
2 01-04-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and
learned APP for the State.
2. The petitioners seek bail in connection with
Kateya P.S. Case No. 649 of 2025 registered for the offence
under Sections 80 and 3(5) of the BNS.
3. As per the prosecution case, the petitioners, who
are in-laws of the deceased, are said to have killed the deceased.
4. The petitioners are in custody since 26.11.2025.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that
the petitioners are innocent and the deceased has committed
suicide because earlier her marriage was finalized with the elder
brother of her husband and subsequently, she was made to marry
the younger brother. He also submits that from the post-mortem
report, it appears that there is no external injury on the body of
the deceased.
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.20057 of 2026(2) dt.01-04-2026
2/2
6. Considering the aforesaid facts, this application
is allowed.
7. Let the petitioners, 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 concerned Court below in connection with Kateya
P.S. Case No. 649 of 2025.
8. As a condition of this order, the petitioners, after
being released on bail, are directed to co-operate in the trial
either by appearing personally or through their lawyer in the
trial Court on each and every date fixed by the trial Court. Non-
compliance of the condition will result in cancellation of the bail
bonds of the petitioners.
9. 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
expressed any opinion on the merits of the case.
(Sandeep Kumar, J)
Vikas/-
U
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