Patna High Court
Ram Ratan TeliversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- SANDEEP KUMAR
Holding
The court granted bail to the petitioner, holding that his role as a driver and the period of custody justified release on bail.
Summary
Ram Ratan Teli, a driver, was arrested in connection with a case alleging that a minor girl was sold for marriage, violating sections 137(2) and 96 of the B.N.S. and section 8 of the POCSO Act. He has been in custody since 10 January 2026. The petitioner applied for bail, arguing that his role was limited to driving the vehicle used by the alleged buyer. The court considered his minimal participation and the length of his custody and decided to grant bail. Bail was conditioned on a bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties, verification of his address, and his personal appearance at each trial date, without expressing any view on the merits of the case.
Issues considered
- Whether the driver, alleged to have facilitated the transport of a minor for marriage, is entitled to bail under sections 137(2) and 96 of the B.N.S. and section 8 of the POCSO Act.
Legislation cited
- B.N.S. — s. 137(2), 96
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act — s. 8
Subjects
- bail
- POCSO Act
- child marriage
- human trafficking
- driver
- criminal procedure
- sections 137(2) B.N.S.
- section 96 B.N.S.
- section 8 POCSO
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.21742 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-18 Year-2026 Thana- BARACHATTI District- Gaya
======================================================
Ram Ratan Teli S/O Ramesh Lal Teli R/O Village- Shikhrani, Tehsil- Masuda,
P.S- Vijay Nagar, Distt.- Ajmer. (Rajasthan)
... ... Petitioner
Versus
1. The State of Bihar
2. XXX S/O YYY R/O Village- Manjhauli, Post- Binda, P.S- Barachatti, Dist.-
Gaya.
... ... Opposite Parties
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Patanjali Rishi, Advocate
Mr. Tabish Sharfuddin, Advocate
For the State : Mr. Murli Dhar, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
2 07-04-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned
APP for the State.
2. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with
Barachatti P.S. Case No.18 of 2026 registered for the offence
under sections 137(2) and 96 of the B.N.S. and under section 8
of the POCSO Act.
3. It is alleged that one minor girl was being
sold to one Hari Kishan, who is from the State of Rajasthan, by
one Sanjay Paswan for the purpose of marriage. The petitioner
is the driver of the vehicle, on which Hari Kishan had come
from Rajasthan for getting married.
4. The petitioner is in custody since
10.01.2026.
5. Considering the fact that the petitioner was
the driver of the vehicle and also his period of custody, this bail
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.21742 of 2026(2) dt.07-04-2026
2/2
application is allowed.
6. Let the petitioner, above named, be released
on bail upon furnishing bail bonds of Rs.10,000/- (ten thousand)
with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of
learned Special Judge, POCSO, Gaya ji / concerned Court
below, in connection with Barachatti P.S. Case No.18 of 2026,
subject to the condition that the petitioner will cooperate in the
trial and will appear personally or through his advocate on each
and every date fixed in the trial and further both the bailors will
be the close relatives of the petitioner, who may be from the
State of Rajasthan.
7. At the time of accepting the bail bonds of the
petitioner, the Court below will verify the address of the
petitioner.
8. It is clarified that this Court has not
expressed any opinion on the merits of the case and the
observations made by this Court is only for the purpose of
deciding this bail application.
(Sandeep Kumar, J)
pawan/-
U T
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