Patna High Court
Pawan Kumar Mandal @ Pawan MandalversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- RAJESH KUMAR VERMA
Holding
Bail was granted to the petitioner subject to a bond of Rs.10,000 and specified conditions.
Summary
Pawan Kumar Mandal, a middle school teacher, was arrested on 14 February 2026 in connection with an FIR alleging forgery of documents and offences under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120(B) of the IPC. The petitioner contended that he has a clean antecedent, that the FIR is fabricated, and that his certificates were verified as genuine by the concerned university. He also highlighted his 15 years of service and recent successful teacher evaluation. The State and the Vigilance Department opposed bail, noting that the petitioner had not resigned from his post. The Court, after considering the clean antecedent and the circumstances, granted bail on a bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties and imposed conditions regarding cooperation with the trial and non‑tampering with evidence.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted to the accused in a case involving offences under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120(B) of the IPC, considering his clean antecedent and the nature of the allegations.
Legislation cited
- Indian Penal Code — s. 120(B), 420, 467, 468, 471
Subjects
- bail
- forgery
- IPC sections 420 467 468 471 120B
- clean antecedent
- criminal procedure
- middle school teacher
- verification of documents
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.28757 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-18 Year-2026 Thana- BABUBARHI District- Madhubani
======================================================
Pawan Kumar Mandal @ Pawan Mandal Son of Late Jangbahadur Mandal
Resident of Village - Math Khudarkhala, Police Station - Babubarhi, District -
Madhubani
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar
2. The Superintendent of Police, Vigilance, Patna, Bihar.
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Vindhyachal Singh, Sr.Advocate
: Mr.Vipin Kumar Singh, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Anand Kishore Choudhary, APP
For the Vigilance : Mr.Arvind Kumar, Advocate
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR VERMA
ORAL ORDER
3 29-04-2026 Heard Mr. Vindhyachal Singh, learned senior
counsel for the petitioner, Mr.Arvind Kumar, learned counsel for
the Vigilance and Mr.Anand Kishore Choudhary, learned A.P.P.
for the State.
2. The petitioner seeks bail, who is in custody since
14.02.2026 in connection with Babubarhi P.S. Case No. 18 of
2026, F.I.R. dated 08.01.2026 registered for the offence
punishable under Sections 420,467,468,471,120(B) of IPC.
3. Allegation against the petitioner is that he has
continued to serve as a Middle School Mauahi, by submitting a
forged documents.
4. Learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner
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submits that the petitioner has clean antecedent. The allegation
as alleged in the FIR is false and fabricated and the petitioner
has not committed any offence as alleged in the FIR. It appears
that pursuance to the order passed in CWJC No.15459/2014
(PIL), the State Government has filed the present FIR against
the petitioner and similarly situated like persons in all over the
State of Bihar. As per allegation in the FIR, the certificate of the
petitioner was mismatched with the record of the institution.
Learned senior counsel for the petitioner submits that after
joining the service in question, the authority has sent the
certificate of the petitioner to the concerned University/
Institution and the same was found genuine. Learned senior
counsel for the petitioner further submits that the petitioner was
working since last 15 years and pursuant to the present FIR the
petitioner is behind the bar and apart from the aforesaid, the
petitioner has already passed the Elementary Teacher Evaluation
Examination which was conducted in the State of Bihar and the
petitioner is in custody since 14.02.2026.
5. Learned counsel for the Vigilance and learned APP
for the State have opposed the prayer for bail of the petitioner
and submits that other similar cases, the petitioner has come
before this Court after resignation from the post in question but
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in the present case the petitioner has not resigned as yet.
6. Considering the aforesaid fact and petitioner has
clean antecedent, let the petitioner, above named, be released on
bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Ten Thousand) with
two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of
learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Madhubani in connection
with Babubarhi P.S. Case No. 18 of 2026, with the following
conditions:-
(I) Petitioner shall co-operate in the trial and shall be
properly represented on each and every date fixed by the Court
and shall remain physically present as directed by the Court and
on his/her absence on two consecutive dates without sufficient
reason, his/her bail bond shall be cancelled by the Court below.
(II) If the petitioner tampers with the evidence or the
witnesses, in that case, the prosecution will be at liberty to move
for cancellation of bail.
(III) And, further condition that the court below shall
verify the criminal antecedent of the petitioner and in case at
any stage, it is found that the petitioner has concealed his
criminal antecedent, the court below shall take step for
cancellation of bail bond of the petitioner. However, the
acceptance of bail bonds in terms of the above-mentioned order
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shall not be delayed for purpose of or in the name of
verification.
(Rajesh Kumar Verma, J)
Nitesh/-
U T
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