Patna High Court
Ravi KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- SANDEEP KUMAR
Holding
The court granted regular bail to the petitioner.
Summary
Ravi Kumar was arrested in connection with the murder of his wife, alleged to be a dowry death under IPC sections 304B, 120B and 34. He had been in custody since February 5, 2025 and filed a second application for regular bail. The petitioner’s counsel argued that he was falsely implicated and that the key informant had turned hostile during trial. The High Court, noting the informant’s hostile stance, granted bail on a bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties, subject to the condition that the petitioner cooperate with the trial proceedings. The court clarified that its order was limited to the bail application and did not prejudice the merits of the case.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted to the accused in a dowry death case where the prosecution’s key witness has turned hostile
Legislation cited
- Indian Penal Code — s. 120B, 304B, 34
Subjects
- bail
- dowry death
- IPC 304B
- criminal conspiracy
- hostile witness
- regular bail
- Criminal Procedure Code
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.21634 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-139 Year-2024 Thana- SIDHWALIYA District- Gopalganj
======================================================
Ravi Kumar S/o Shivratan Mahato Resident of Village- Supauli, P.S.-
Sidhwaliya, District- Gopalganj, Bihar
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Sanjeev Kumar
Mr. Raushan Raj
Mr. Sitesh Kashyap
Mr. Vikash Kumar Yadav
Mr.Prasoon Shekhar
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Bharat Lal
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
2 30-04-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned
APP for the State.
2. This is the second attempt of the petitioner for
grant of regular bail in connection with Sessions Trial No. 679
of 2025 arising out of Sidhwaliya P.S. Case No. 139 of 2024
registered for the offence under Sections 304(B), 120(B) and 34
of the Indian Penal Code.
3. As per the prosecution case, the petitioner is the
husband of the deceased and he is alleged to have killed his wife
for demand of dowry.
4. The petitioner is in custody since 5.2.2025.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
the petitioner is innocent and has falsely been implicated in this
case. He further submits that, in the trial, the informant has been
declared hostile.
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.21634 of 2026(2) dt.30-04-2026
2/2
6. Considering the fact that the informant has
turned hostile in the trial, this application is allowed.
7. Let the petitioner, 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 Sessions
Trial No. 679 of 2025 arising out of Sidhwaliya P.S. Case No.
139 of 2024.
8. As a condition of this order, the petitioner, after
being released on bail, is directed to co-operate in the trial either
by appearing personally or through his 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 petitioner.
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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