Patna High Court
Sujeet Chaudhary @ Sujeet Kumar Chaudhary @ Sujeet KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- SANDEEP KUMAR
Holding
Bail was granted to the petitioner with a bond and a maintenance condition.
Summary
Petitioner Sujeet Chaudhary was arrested on 27 January 2026 in connection with a dowry harassment case (Ekangarsarai P.S. Case No.230 of 2021) involving offences under IPC sections 341, 342, 323, 498-A, 504, 506 and 34, as well as sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. He applied for regular bail, claiming innocence, while the State and his wife opposed the relief. The Court, referring to the Supreme Court’s guidelines in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar, considered the nature of the allegations and the period of custody. It granted bail on a bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties and imposed a condition that the petitioner pay Rs.5,000 monthly as maintenance to his wife. The maintenance order is subject to any separate maintenance proceedings.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted in a dowry harassment case involving multiple IPC offences
- Application of the Arnesh Kumar guidelines on regular bail
- Whether imposing a maintenance condition is appropriate in the bail order
Legislation cited
- Dowry Prohibition Act — s. 3, 4
- Indian Penal Code — s. 323, 34, 341, 342, 498-A, 504, 506
Subjects
- bail
- dowry harassment
- Indian Penal Code
- Dowry Prohibition Act
- Arnesh Kumar guidelines
- maintenance
- criminal procedure
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.28164 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-230 Year-2021 Thana- EKANGARSARAI District- Nalanda
======================================================
Sujeet Chaudhary @ Sujeet Kumar Chaudhary @ Sujeet Kumar S/o Sanjeet
Chaudhary Resident of Village- Koshiyawan, P.S.- Ekangarsarai, District-
Nalanda
... ... Petitioner
Versus
1. The State of Bihar
2. Lodhani Devi Wife of Sujeet Chaudhary, D/o Naresh Chaudhary At Present
Resident of Village- Ajaypur, P.S.- Noorsarai, District- Nalanda
... ... Opposite Parties
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner : Mr. Sailesh Kumar, Advocate
For the Opposite Party : Mr. Mohammad Sufyan, APP
For the Opp. Party No.2 : Mr. Anil Kumar Singh, Advocate
Mr. Satyendra Prasad Singh, Advocate
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
2 07-05-2026 Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner,
learned A.P.P. for the State and learned counsel for the opposite
party no.2.
2. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with
Ekangarsarai P.S. Case No.230 of 2021 instituted under sections
341, 342, 323, 498-A, 504, 506 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code
and under sections 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
3. The petitioner is accused is torturing his wife
for non-fulfillment of demand of dowry. He is in custody since
27.01.2026.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits
that petitioner is innocent and has falsely been implicated in the
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.28164 of 2026(2) dt.07-05-2026
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case.
5. The learned A.P.P. for the State and learned
counsel for the opposite party no.2 have vehemently opposed
the prayer of the petitioner for grant of bail.
6. Considering the nature of allegation, the
period of custody of the petitioner and in view of the law down
by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Arnesh Kumar vs.
State of Bihar reported in (2014) 8 SCC 273, this application of
grant of regular bail is allowed.
7. Let the petitioner, above named, be released
on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 10,000/- (ten thousand)
with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of
the learned S.D.J.M., Hilsa, Nalanda, in connection with
Ekangarsarai P.S. Case No.230 of 2021.
8. As a condition of this order, the petitioner is
directed to pay an amount of Rs.5,000/- (Rupees Five
Thousand) to the opposite party no.2-wife towards her
maintenance from the month of May, 2026. The maintenance
amount for the month of May, 2026 shall be paid by 10th of
June, 2026 and thereafter, every month on or before the 10th day
of the month. Failure to do so shall result in cancellation of bail
bonds of the petitioner.
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3/3
9. It is made clear that the order of maintenance
passed by this Court shall be subject to the outcome of
maintenance case, if any.
(Sandeep Kumar, J)
pawan/-
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