Patna High Court
Sonu Nat @ Sonu KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL REJECTED
- Bench
- RAJIV ROY
Holding
Anticipatory bail was denied as the petitioner’s prior criminal record and the victim statements under Section 183 of the BNS justified the denial.
Summary
The petitioner, Sonu Nat, sought anticipatory bail fearing arrest in a case involving alleged trafficking of minor girls. The FIR alleged offences under the BNS, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, POCSO Act, Juvenile Justice Act and Bounded Labour System Act, based on a raid that rescued minors. The petitioner argued that his wife heads a dance orchestra and that no immorality is involved. The State countered that several girls gave statements under Section 183 of the BNS supporting the prosecution’s version. The court noted the petitioner’s three prior criminal convictions and found no sufficient ground to grant anticipatory bail, thereby rejecting the petition.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioner in view of the serious offences alleged under multiple statutes.
- Whether the petitioner’s prior criminal antecedents preclude the grant of anticipatory bail.
- Whether the statements of the minor girls under Section 183 of the BNS substantiate the prosecution’s case.
Legislation cited
- BNS — s. 111, 143(1), 145, 183, 296, 3(5)
- Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act — s. 3, 5, 6
- Juvenile Justice Act — s. 75, 79
- POCSO Act — s. 13, 14, 4, 8
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- trafficking of minors
- immoral traffic
- POCSO
- juvenile justice
- criminal antecedents
- bail jurisprudence
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.20575 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-395 Year-2025 Thana- NASRIGANJ District- Rohtas
======================================================
Sonu Nat @ Sonu Kumar Son of Vijay Kumar Resident of Village -Bardiha
Police Station- Nasriganj District -Rohtas
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar
2. Anshu Mala, S.I. Present Posted mahila Ps Dehri- On-Sone, Ps Dehri on -
sone Dist- Rohtas bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Raghunandan Kumar Singh, Adv.
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Bharat Bhushan, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY
ORAL ORDER
2 08-04-2026 Heard Mr. Raghunandan Kumar Singh, learned
counsel for the petitioner and the State.
2. The petitioner apprehends his arrest in connection
with Nasriganj P.S. Case No. 395 of 2025 for the offence
registered under sections 143(1), 145, 111, 296, 3(5) of the BNS
and Section 3, 5, 6 of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and
Sections 4, 8, 13, 14 of the POCSO Act and Section 75, 79 of
the Juvenile Justice Act and Sections 16, 17, 18 of the Bounded
Labour System Act.
3. As per the FIR, the Police got the information that
minor girls are being brought from outside for immoral
trafficking and accordingly, a high level team was constituted,
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.20575 of 2026(2) dt.08-04-2026
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raid took place, the minor girls were recovered which followed
the FIR.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that his
wife is head of an orchestra and nothing immoral is done by
those who willingly come to perform their dance.
5. Learned APP, Mr. Bharat Bhushan on the other
hand has taken this Court to the order passed by the learned
Sessions Judge to show that some of the girls have narrated their
ordeal under Section 183 of the BNS and have actually
supported the prosecution story.
6. Considering the aforesaid submissions of the
parties including the fact that the petitioner has three criminal
antecedents under his belt, no case of anticipatory bail is made
out.
7. Cr. Misc. No. 20575 of 2026 is rejected.
(Rajiv Roy, J)
Vijay Singh/-
U T
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