Patna High Court
Darakasha Khatoon @ Darakasha KhatunversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- ALLOWED
- Bench
- ASHOK KUMAR PANDEY
Holding
The court granted regular bail to the petitioner.
Summary
The petitioner, Darakasha Khatoon, sought regular bail in a case registered under Section 97 of the BNS concerning the alleged abduction of a minor child. The prosecution alleged that the petitioner, identified from CCTV footage, took the child under the pretext of consoling him. The petitioner contended that she was falsely implicated, had no criminal antecedent, and that any admission recorded was a confessional statement inadmissible without proper safeguards. The State opposed bail, but the court, after considering the circumstances and lack of substantive evidence beyond the alleged confession, decided to enlarge bail. Consequently, the petitioner was ordered to be released on bail upon furnishing a bail bond of Rs. 10,000 with two sureties.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail should be granted to the petitioner under Section 97 of the BNS in light of the alleged confession and identification from CCTV footage.
Legislation cited
- BNS — s. 97
Subjects
- regular bail
- Section 97 BNS
- confessional statement
- CCTV identification
- kidnapping
- criminal procedure
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.23530 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-169 Year-2025 Thana- Salmari District- Katihar
======================================================
Darakasha Khatoon @ Darakasha Khatun W/o Md. Musharraf Alam @
Musharrf Alam R/o Village - Belbari, P.S - Salmari, District - Katihar
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Harish Chandra Patel, Advocate
Ms. Isha Mishra, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Ms. Gulnar Begum, 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 offence punishable
under Section 97 of the BNS.
3. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the
informant had gone to fetch vegetables along with her two
children and her mother-in-law. It is alleged that a lady came
there, took away the minor son of the informant, and thereafter
disappeared.
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 name of the petitioner does
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.23530 of 2026(2) dt.16-04-2026
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not find place in the F.I.R., and the informant claims to have
identified the petitioner from CCTV footage. It is further
submitted that the petitioner was known to the informant prior
to the occurrence and had taken the child only for the purpose of
consoling him, without any intention to kidnap or abduct. It is
also submitted that, from perusal of the order of the learned
Trial Court, particularly paragraphs 33, 34 and 35 of the case
diary, it transpires that after being identified from the CCTV
footage, the petitioner along with other accused persons
allegedly admitted their involvement in the occurrence. Learned
counsel submits that such admission amounts to a confessional
statement and, save and except the said confessional statement,
there is no material against the petitioner. It is further submitted
that the petitioner is a lady and is languishing in judicial custody
since 24.12.2025, having 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 Salmari P.S. Case No.
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.23530 of 2026(2) dt.16-04-2026
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169 of 2025, on furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees
Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each, to the
satisfaction of the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate,
Katihar/concerned Court.
(Ashok Kumar Pandey, J)
Jagdish/-
U T
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