Patna High Court
Rupam KumariversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- PRAVEEN KUMAR
Holding
The court granted regular bail to the petitioner on the condition of a bail bond and sureties.
Summary
Rupam Kumari applied for regular bail in a session trial concerning alleged extortion, sexual exploitation, and blackmail carried out by her husband, Ranjan Kumar, against an informant between 2021 and 2025. The prosecution alleged that the husband, with the petitioner’s assistance, extracted approximately Rs. 31 lakh through false job promises, crypto schemes, and threats, and produced obscene videos to extort further money. The petitioner contended she was innocent, that the main accusations were against her husband, and that no FIR was lodged during the alleged period. The State’s APP argued that the petitioner actively participated in the crimes, citing the victim’s statement under Section 183 of the BNSS. The court, noting that the primary thrust of the allegations was against the husband, granted bail on the condition of a Rs. 10,000 bond with two sureties, allowing the petitioner’s release pending trial.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail should be granted to the petitioner despite allegations of participation in extortion and sexual exploitation
- Whether the primary accusation against the husband suffices to deny bail to the petitioner
- Applicability of Section 183 of the BNSS and Section 66(E) of the IT Act in the bail consideration
Legislation cited
- Bihar Negotiable Securities Act — s. 183, 303(2), 316(2), 318(4), 3(5), 351(2), 352, 64
- Information Technology Act, 2000 — s. 66(E)
Subjects
- regular bail
- extortion
- sexual exploitation
- blackmail
- obscene material
- Information Technology Act
- Bihar Negotiable Securities Act
- criminal procedure
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.25599 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-92 Year-2025 Thana- Lalmatia District- Bhagalpur
======================================================
Rupam Kumari W/o Ranjan Kumar R/o Village - Sarai Kendua, P.S -
Sangrampur, District - Munger
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Advocate
Ms. Rashmi Kumari, Advocate
Ms. Damini, Advocate
Ms. Komal Kumari, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Nand Kishore Prasad, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PRAVEEN KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
3 13-05-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned
A.P.P for the State.
2. The petitioner has preferred this application for
grant of regular bail in connection with Session Trial No. 1088
of 2025 (arising out of Lalmatia P.S. Case No. 92 of 2025)
registered for the offences punishable under Sections 316(2),
318(4), 64, 303(2), 352, 351(2) and 3(5) of the BNS and Section
66 (E) of the I.T. Act.
3. As per the prosecution case, the husband of the
petitioner, on the false pretext of arranging a backdated B.Ed.
certificate and providing a teaching job in Kendriya Vidyalaya,
induced the informant to pay huge sums of money amounting to
approximately Rs. 31,00,000/- through cash, cheque, and online
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transactions during the period from 2021 to 2025. It is further
alleged that the husband of the petitioner subjected the
informant to sexual exploitation after intoxicating her, prepared
obscene videos, and continuously blackmailed her for further
money. It is also alleged that the petitioner assisted her husband
in the threats, extortion, and harassment. The husband of the
petitioner allegedly kept extracting money and valuables under
different pretexts such as job assurance, crypto business, land
share, and personal needs. The informant was compelled to hand
over gold ornaments, a mobile phone, and other valuables. Upon
resistance, the petitioner and her husband allegedly sent obscene
videos/photos, threatened the informant at her residence and
workplace, and even intimidated the school staff. Due to these
acts, the informant suffered severe mental trauma, family
suspicion, and financial loss and the petitioner and her husband
allegedly exploited the informant physically, emotionally,
financially and extorted crores of rupees along with her dignity.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted
that the petitioner is innocent and has falsely been implicated in
this case. It has further been submitted that the allegations
pertain to the period from 2021 to 2025, yet no complaint/FIR
was ever lodged during that time. It has further been submitted
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that the main thrust of the allegations is against the husband of
the petitioner. It has also been submitted that the informant
herself had entered into an immoral contract with the husband of
the petitioner and the same cannot be enforceable in the eyes of
law. Referring to Section 183 of the BNSS, learned counsel for
the petitioner submitted that all the payments were made to
accused Ranjan Kumar, the husband of the petitioner. It has
further been submitted that no wife would support her husband
in such misdeeds. It has also been submitted that no material has
been brought on record to substantiate the allegation that any
obscene video was made viral. Lastly, it has been submitted that
the petitioner has got clean criminal antecedent and is in custody
since 07.08.2025.
5. Learned APP for the State has vehemently opposed
the prayer for bail of the petitioner and submitted that the
informant/victim, in her statement recorded under Section 183
of the BNSS, has stated that the petitioner actively participated
in the alleged occurrence and connived with her husband in
extorting money from the informant and exploiting her
physically as well as mentally.
6. Heard the parties and perused the record.
7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the
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case, especially that the main thrust of the allegation is against
the husband of the petitioner, let the petitioner above-named, be
enlarged on bail on furnishing bail-bonds of Rs. 10,000/-
(Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount
each to the satisfaction of learned Court concerned, Bhagalpur,
in connection with Session Trial No. 1088 of 2025 (arising out
of Lalmatia P.S. Case No. 92 of 2025).
8. The application stands allowed.
(Praveen Kumar, J)
Jyoti/-
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