Patna High Court

Lalan Singh @ Lalan Kumar Singh @ Lalan KumarversusThe State of Bihar

Decided: 16 April 2026
Disposal: ALLOWED
Bench: ASHOK KUMAR PANDEY

Holding

The Court granted regular bail to the petitioner, directing his release upon furnishing the prescribed bail bond and sureties.

Summary

Lalan Singh, a journalist, was arrested in connection with alleged inappropriate touching of a schoolgirl and charged under several sections of the Bihar Negotiable Substances Act and Section 8 of the POCSO Act. The prosecution alleged that the victim was returning a practical copy to school when the petitioner allegedly teased and touched her, threatening her when she objected. The petitioner contended that he was falsely implicated, that the school was closed on the alleged date, and that he has no prior criminal record. The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the offences. Considering the lack of concrete evidence, the petitioner’s clean record, and the circumstances, the Court inclined to enlarge bail and ordered his release on regular bail upon furnishing a bail bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties.

Issues considered

Whether regular bail should be granted to the petitioner despite the charges under the BNS Act and POCSO Act
Whether the evidence presented by the prosecution is sufficient to justify denial of bail

Legislation cited

Bihar Negotiable Substances Act (BNS) — s. 115(2), 126(2), 351(3), 352, 74, 75, 78
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) — s. 8

Subjects

regular bail
criminal procedure
POCSO Act
IPC sections 351, 352
journalist
false implication
bail bond

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.23494 of 2026
                   Arising Out of PS. Case No.-15 Year-2026 Thana- Ramgarh Chowk District- Lakhisarai
                 ======================================================
                 Lalan Singh @ Lalan Kumar Singh @ Lalan Kumar S/O Late Umesh Singh
                 R/O Village - Parsawan, P.S- Ramgarh Chowk, District- Lakhisarai


                                                                                    ... ... Petitioner/s

                                                        Versus

                 The State of Bihar


                                                        ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s     :        Ms. Shilpi Keshri, Advocate
                 For the Opposite Party/s :        Mr. Madan Kumar, APP
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK KUMAR PANDEY
                                       ORAL ORDER

2   16-04-2026                  Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned

                   APP for the State.

                                2. The petitioner has prayed for grant of regular bail

                   in connection with a case registered for the offences punishable

                   under Sections 115(2), 126(2), 74, 75, 78, 351(3) and 352 of the

                   BNS and Section 8 of the POCSO Act.

                                3. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the

                   informant had gone to deposit her practical copy at Parsawan

                   School, and while she was returning thereafter, the petitioner

                   allegedly teased her and touched her inappropriately. It is further

                   alleged that when she objected, she was threatened with dire
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.23494 of 2026(2) dt.16-04-2026
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          consequences.

                       4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the

          petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the

          present case. It is contended that the petitioner is a journalist and

          had published a news clip regarding the alleged illegal act of the

          informant’s father. It is further submitted that, from perusal of

          the examination schedule, the practical examinations were fixed

          from 20.01.2026 to 22.01.2026, and on the alleged date of

          occurrence, the school was closed; therefore, there was no

          occasion for the informant to visit the school for depositing the

          practical copy. It is also submitted that the only allegation

          against the petitioner is of inappropriate touching. Moreover, the

          petitioner is in judicial custody since 05.02.2026 and has no

          criminal antecedent.

                       5. Learned APP for the State has opposed the prayer

          for regular bail.

                       6. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances

          of the case, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on

          bail.

                       7. Accordingly, the above-named petitioner is directed

          to be released on bail in connection with Ramgarh Chowk P.S.

          Case No. 15 of 2026, on furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 10,000/-
            Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.23494 of 2026(2) dt.16-04-2026
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                      (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount

                      each, to the satisfaction of the learned District and Additional

                      Sessions Judge-VI, Lakhisarai/concerned Court.



                                            (Ashok Kumar Pandey, J)
Jagdish/-

U       T

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