Patna High Court
Subhash RatnaversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- KHATIM REZA
Holding
Anticipatory bail was granted to the petitioner subject to a bail bond of Rs.10,000 and two sureties, under Section 482(2) of the B.N.S.S. Act.
Summary
The petitioner, Subhash Ratna, was implicated in a land fraud case (P.S. Case No. 1227 of 2023) involving alleged false entries in land records and multiple IPC offences (419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 427/34). He contended that he was a bona‑fide purchaser of the land from the rightful owners and had no criminal antecedent, while the FIR also named the Sub‑Registrar and other vendors. The State opposed his request for anticipatory bail. The Court examined the nature of the dispute, noted that bail had already been granted to several vendors, and considered the petitioner’s claim of innocence and lack of prior convictions. Consequently, the Court ordered that the petitioner be released on anticipatory bail upon furnishing a bail bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties, subject to conditions under Section 482(2) of the B.N.S.S. Act. The order was made by Justice Khatim Reza.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioner in the land fraud case under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 427/34 IPC.
- Whether the petitioner’s claim of being a bona‑fide purchaser and having no criminal antecedent warrants bail.
Legislation cited
- B.N.S.S. — s. 482(2)
- Indian Penal Code — s. 419, 420, 427/34, 467, 468, 471
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- land fraud
- false entry in land records
- IPC offences
- bona‑fide purchaser
- bail bond
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.26243 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-1227 Year-2023 Thana- KHAGARIA District- Khagaria
======================================================
Subhash Ratna, S/o Desh Ratna Mahto, R/o Village- Bela Simri, P.S-
Khagaria (Gangaur), Distt.- Khagaria.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ranjeet Kumar Singh, Adv.
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Jharkhandi Upadhyay, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE KHATIM REZA
ORAL ORDER
2 22-04-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned
A.P.P. for the State.
2. The petitioner apprehends arrest in connection with
Khagaria P.S. Case No. 1227 of 2023 dated 17.11.2023,
registered for the offence punishable under Sections 419, 420,
467, 468, 471 and 427/34 of the Indian Penal Code.
3. The prosecution case, in short, is that the petitioner
and other accused persons have sold the ancestral land of the
informant by making a false entry in the records of right in
connivance with each other. The petitioner is one of the
purchaser.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
petitioner is innocent and he has been falsely implicated in this
case. It is submitted that the petitioner is one of the purchaser of
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.26243 of 2026(2) dt.22-04-2026
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the land in question from the land holders. It is submitted that
the F.I.R. has been lodged against 13 persons including the
petitioner. It is submitted that accused persons at Sl. Nos. 1 to 6
are the vendors and accused persons at Sl. Nos. 7 to 11 are the
purchasers of the land in question which has been executed. It is
also submitted that the F.I.R. has not been lodged only against
the purchaser but also against the Sub-Registrar of the District-
Khagaria Sadar. It is further submitted that the petitioner is
bonafide purchaser for valuable consideration. Further, it is
submitted that the land in question belongs to one Jagdish
Mahto and for the same land a Title Suit No. 06 of 2024 has
been filed which is pending before the learned Civil Judge, Sr.
Division, Khagaria. It is submitted that 12 persons have been
granted bail by different co-ordinate Benches of this Court vide
Annexure Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5. Lastly, it has been submitted that
he has no criminal antecedent.
5. Learned A.P.P. has opposed the prayer for bail of
the petitioner.
6. Having considered the nature of the dispute and
bail granted by different co-ordinate Benches of this Court to
the vendors of the said sale deed and submissions of learned
counsel for the parties, in the event of arrest / surrender of the
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.26243 of 2026(2) dt.22-04-2026
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petitioner within a period of six weeks from today, in connection
with Khagaria P.S. Case No. 1227 of 2023, he shall be released
on anticipatory bail upon furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 10,000/-
(ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the
satisfaction of the learned C.J.M., Khagaria, subject to condition
as laid down under Section 482(2) of B.N.S.S..
(Khatim Reza, J)
prabhat/-
U T
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