Patna High Court
Priya ranjanversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- ALLOWED
- Bench
- SUNIL DUTTA MISHRA
Holding
The Court granted anticipatory bail to the petitioner, subject to the conditions prescribed under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Summary
The petitioner, Priya Ranjan, was implicated in a case (Chhatauni P.S. Case No.357 of 2022) alleging conspiracy to withhold smart meters and demand a ransom of Rs.10 lakh, invoking Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC. He contended that the allegations stemmed from a monetary dispute with his employer, the owner of ANP Info Solution Private Ltd., and that no incriminating material was recovered from him. The petitioner highlighted his clean antecedent and pointed out that a co-accused, Chhotan Kumar Paswan, had already been granted anticipatory bail in a similar matter. The State opposed the bail, arguing the seriousness of the offences. After considering the facts, the petitioner's clean record, and the precedent of bail to the co-accused, the Court granted anticipatory bail subject to conditions under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail can be granted to the petitioner under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in a case involving Sections 406 and 420 IPC.
- Whether the petitioner’s clean antecedent and lack of material against him justify the grant of anticipatory bail.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — s. 482(2)
- Indian Penal Code — s. 406, 420
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- conspiracy
- extortion
- IPC 406
- IPC 420
- Section 482
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- clean antecedent
- smart meter
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.20454 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-357 Year-2022 Thana- CHHATAUNI District- East Champaran
======================================================
Priya ranjan S/O Ram Kishore Prasad @ Ram Kishor Prasad, Resident of
village - Talimpur,P.S- Madhuban, Dist-East Champaran.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar.
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Abhishek Kumar, Advocate.
For the Opposite Party/s : Ms. Madhuri Lata, A.P.P.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUNIL DUTTA MISHRA
ORAL ORDER
2 18-04-2026 1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned
A.P.P. for the State.
2. The petitioner apprehends his arrest in connection
with Chhatauni P.S. Case No.357 of 2022 instituted under
Sections 406, 420 of the Indian Penal Code.
3. As per the prosecution case, the informant who is
owner of ANP Info. Solution Private Ltd. which was assigned
by the Government to install smart meter has alleged that he
started the work of installation of meter since 01.07.2020. On
30.10.2021 all the accused persons including the petitioner who
are staff of informant in conspiracy with each other kept 422
new meters and 385 old meters and did not return it to the
informant. On demand the accused persons threatened the
informant to give them Rs.10 lacs as ransom. It is alleged that
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.20454 of 2026(2) dt.18-04-2026
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earlier there is allegation of assault against the accused persons
due to which another Chhatauni P.S. Case No.403 of 2021 has
been lodged.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this
case. He further submits that the petitioner is working in the
company of informant and money dispute has arisen between
the company and petitioner due to which informant has
implicated the petitioner in the present case. Learned counsel
submits that petitioner is not an accused in Chhatauni P.S. Case
No.403 of 2021. He further submits that there is no material
against the petitioner to implicate him in the present case and no
incriminating article has been recovered from his conscious
possession. Learned counsel submits that similarly situated co-
accused, namely, Chhotan Kumar Paswan has already been
granted anticipatory bail by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court
vide order dated 12.03.2026 passed in Cr. Misc. No.10951 of
2026. He further submits that petitioner has got clean antecedent
and he undertakes to cooperate in the investigation and trial of
the case.
5. Learned A.P.P. for the State opposes the prayer for
anticipatory bail.
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.20454 of 2026(2) dt.18-04-2026
3/3
6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the
case, submissions of learned counsel for the parties, the nature
of allegation leveled against the petitioner and his clean
antecedent as well as the fact that similarly situated co-accused
has already been granted bail, in the event of arrest or surrender
before the Court below within six weeks from today, the
petitioner be released on bail upon furnishing bail bonds of
Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like
amount to each to the satisfaction of the learned Chief Judicial
Magistrate, East Champaran, Motihari/ concerned Court in
connection with Chhatauni P.S. Case No.357 of 2022, subject to
the conditions laid down in Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
(Sunil Dutta Mishra, J)
Ritik/-
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