Patna High Court
Bharat ChaudharyversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL REJECTED
- Bench
- PRABHAT KUMAR SINGH
Holding
Anticipatory bail was denied because the nature and seriousness of the dowry death allegations did not warrant such relief.
Summary
The petitioners, Bharat Chaudhary and Rita Devi, sought anticipatory bail after being implicated in a dowry death case involving the alleged murder of their daughter-in-law. The prosecution alleged that they, along with others, committed offences under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (including assault, grievous hurt, kidnapping, criminal intimidation, dowry harassment, and dowry death) and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The court examined the seriousness of the accusations, noting that the deceased died under unnatural circumstances within seven years of marriage. Given the gravity of the charges and the nature of the alleged crime, the court found no sufficient ground to grant anticipatory bail. Consequently, the petition for anticipatory bail was rejected.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail can be granted to the petitioners in a dowry death case involving multiple serious offences under the IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act
Legislation cited
- Dowry Prohibition Act — s. 4
- Indian Penal Code — s. 304B, 323, 324, 326, 34, 341, 498A, 504, 506
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- dowry death
- Indian Penal Code
- Dowry Prohibition Act
- criminal procedure
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.42715 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-15 Year-2025 Thana- PIPRA District- Patna
======================================================
1. Bharat Chaudhary S/o Jagnandan Chaudhary Resident of village- Sorampur,
Sheikhpura, P.O.- Sorampur, P.S.- Pipra, District- Patna
2. Rita Devi D/o- Sri Rajendra Chaudhary W/o- Sri Bharat Chaudhary
Resident of village- Sorampur, Sheikhpura, P.O.- Sorampur, P.S.- Pipra,
District- Patna
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Vijay Kumar Sinha
For the Opposite Party/s : Dr. Kumar Uday Pratap
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PRABHAT KUMAR SINGH
ORAL ORDER
7 16-01-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned
A.P.P. for the State.
2. The petitioners apprehend their arrest in a case
registered for the offence under Sections 323, 324, 326, 341,
504, 506, 498A, 304B, 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section
4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
3. It is a case of ‘Dowry Death’. As per prosecution
case, all the FIR named accused persons including these
petitioners killed daughter of the informant for dowry.
4. Petitioner no. 1 is father-in-law and petitioner no. 2
is mother-in-law of the deceased and there is specific allegation
that they killed the deceased for dowry. The deceased died in an
unnatural circumstances within seven years of marriage at her
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.42715 of 2025(7) dt.16-01-2026
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matrimonial house.
5. 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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