Patna High Court

Sikindra Raut @ Sikandar RautversusThe State of Bihar

Decided: 1 May 2026
Disposal: BAIL REJECTED
Bench: ARUN KUMAR JHA

Holding

The bail application was rejected as there was no fresh ground for reconsideration.

Summary

The petitioner, Sikindra Raut, applied for bail for the second time after his earlier bail plea was denied on 3 September 2025. He argued that he had been in custody since 15 March 2025, the trial was progressing slowly with only four of ten charge‑sheet witnesses examined, and that the allegations against him were not serious. The State opposed, contending that no new ground was raised for reconsideration and that the trial was not unduly delayed. The High Court examined a report from the trial court indicating that the trial was expected to conclude within nine months and noted that only four witnesses had been examined after charge framing. Finding no fresh ground to revisit the earlier decision, the Court rejected the bail application and directed the trial court to expedite the trial.

Issues considered

Whether the petitioner is entitled to bail on the ground of alleged delay in trial
Whether any fresh ground exists for reconsideration of the earlier bail denial
Whether the nature of the allegations justifies granting bail

Subjects

bail
criminal procedure
trial delay
charge sheet
witness examination
high court

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.20091 of 2026
                       Arising Out of PS. Case No.-45 Year-2025 Thana- PIPRAHI District- Sheohar
                 ======================================================
                 Sikindra Raut @ Sikandar Raut S/o Late Janak Raut @ Late Janag Raut
                 Resident of Village - Ramnagra, P.S.- Riga, District - Sitamarhi

                                                                                   ... ... Petitioner/s

                                                        Versus

                 The State of Bihar
                                                        ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s     :       Mr.Ashok Kumar Jha, Advocate
                 For the Opposite Party/s :       Mr.Anish Chandra, APP
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR JHA
                                       ORAL ORDER

3   01-05-2026                  Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned

                   APP for the State.

                                02. This is the second attempt of the petitioner to seek

                   bail from this Court as earlier his prayer for bail was rejected

                   vide order dated 03.09.2025 passed in Cr. Misc. No. 35157 of

                   2025.

                                03. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the

                   petitioner is in custody since 15.03.2025 and there is no

                   likelihood of early conclusion of trial. Learned counsel further

                   submits that out of 10 charge sheet named witnesses, only 4

                   witnesses have been examined till date after framing of charge

                   on 29.10.2025. Learned counsel further submits that there is no

                   serious allegation against the petitioner and only allegation

                   against the petitioner was that he along with co-accused Arjun
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.20091 of 2026(3) dt.01-05-2026
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          caught hold of the deceased and the co-accused Tausif

          repeatedly stabbed him. But the allegation does not seem

          probable that while co-accused Arjun and petitioner caught hold

          of the deceased, co-accused Tausif repeatedly stabbed him.

          Learned counsel further submits that moreover there is no

          dispute between the petitioner and the deceased.

                       04. Learned APP opposes the submission made on

          behalf of the petitioner. Learned APP submits that no fresh

          ground has been brought on record for reconsideration of prayer

          for bail of the petitioner. Even otherwise there is no delay in

          trial as already 4 witnesses have been examined after framing of

          charge.

                       05. From perusal of record, I find that a report dated

          16.04.2026 has been received from learned Principal District &

          Sessions Judge, Sheohar in compliance of order dated

          10.04.2026. The learned trial court has submitted that after

          framing of charge on 29.10.2025, 4 witnesses have been

          examined out of 10 witnesses and further submitted that the trial

          will conclude within nine months.

                       06. From perusal of record, I find that there is no fresh

          ground for reconsideration of prayer for bail of the petitioner

          and hence, his prayer for bail is rejected.
            Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.20091 of 2026(3) dt.01-05-2026
                                                        3/3




                                   07. The learned trial court is directed to abide by its

                      undertaking and conclude the trial at the earliest.



                                                (Arun Kumar Jha, J)

    DKS/-

U       T

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