Patna High Court
Sunil SinghversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL REJECTED
- Bench
- PRABHAT KUMAR SINGH
Holding
Anticipatory bail was denied because the allegations were of a serious nature involving dowry harassment and murder.
Summary
The petitioners, Sunil Singh and Mala Devi, sought anticipatory bail after being named in an FIR alleging dowry harassment and the murder of the informant’s daughter. The FIR alleged that the deceased was married on 20‑04‑2024, faced cruelty for dowry, and was strangled to death on 27‑06‑2024. The petitioners contended they were merely relatives of the deceased and victims of over‑implication, asserting no involvement in the crime. The informant’s counsel opposed the bail, emphasizing the specific accusations of dowry harassment and the unnatural death within two and a half months of marriage. The court examined the seriousness of the charges under the IPC and Dowry Prohibition Act and concluded that the nature of the allegations warranted denial of anticipatory bail. Consequently, the petition for anticipatory bail was rejected.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail can be granted to persons accused of offences under Sections 304(B), 498(A), 302, 201, 120(B) of the IPC and Sections 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
- Whether the seriousness of the dowry‑harassment and murder allegations justifies denial of anticipatory bail.
Legislation cited
- Dowry Prohibition Act — s. 3, 4
- Indian Penal Code — s. 120(B), 201, 302, 304(B), 498(A)
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- dowry harassment
- murder
- IPC
- Dowry Prohibition Act
- criminal procedure
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.41230 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-548 Year-2024 Thana- MADHAURAH District- Saran
======================================================
1. Sunil Singh Late Shivshankar Singh Village- Patedhi Baij P.S-Marhaura
(Madhourah) District- Saran At Chapra Bihar
2. Mala Devi W/o- Sunil Singh Village- Patedhi Baij P.S-Marhaura
(Madhourah) District- Saran At Chapra Bihar
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Rakesh Kumar, Adv.
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Ganesh Prasad Singh, APP
For the Informant : Mr.Ankur Prakash Sinha, Adv. (through VC)
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PRABHAT KUMAR SINGH
ORAL ORDER
5 03-02-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioners, learned
A.P.P for the State and learned counsel for the informant.
2. The petitioners apprehend their arrest in a case,
registered for offence punishable under Sections 304(B),
498(A), 302, 201 & 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code and
Sections 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
3. As per F.I.R., daughter of informant was married
with co-accused Gurjeet Singh on 20.04.2024 and it is alleged
that after the marriage, she was subjected to cruelty and
harassment by the accused persons including these petitioners
for dowry and lastly on 27.06.2024, the accused persons killed
informant’s daughter by strangulation.
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.41230 of 2025(5) dt.03-02-2026
2/2
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner no. 1 is cousin father-in-law and petitioner no. 2 is
cousin mother-in-law of the deceased and they are simply victim
of over implication. They are separate in mess and property.
5. However, learned counsel for the informant
vehemently opposes the prayer for anticipatory bail and submits
that petitioners are named in the F.I.R. with specific accusation
that they used to harass the deceased for dowry. The deceased
died within 2 ½ half months of the marriage in an unnatural
circumstances.
6. Considering the nature of accusation, the prayer
for anticipatory bail of petitioners is rejected.
(Prabhat Kumar Singh, J)
anay
U T
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