Patna High Court
Uma Ram @ Uma Shankar RamversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- ANIL KUMAR SINHA
Holding
The court held that anticipatory bail should be granted as the alleged offences stem from a civil land dispute and similar co‑accused have already been released on bail, satisfying the requirements of Section 438(2) CrPC.
Summary
The petitioners applied for anticipatory bail in a case (Kochas Police Station Case No. 123 of 2023) alleging offences under Sections 143 and 379 of the IPC for allegedly harvesting a Rabi crop from land leased by the informant. The petitioners contended that the matter was essentially a civil dispute over land ownership, asserting that they were the rightful red card holders and that similar co‑accused had already been granted anticipatory bail by a coordinate bench. The court examined the nature of the allegations, the civil dispute angle, and the precedent of the earlier order granting bail to co‑accused. Considering these factors and the conditions of Section 438(2) of the CrPC, the court was inclined to grant bail. Consequently, the application for anticipatory bail was allowed, subject to a bail bond of Rs. 20,000 with two sureties and compliance with the stipulated conditions.
Issues considered
- What is the appropriate exercise of discretion in granting anticipatory bail under Section 438(2) of the CrPC in a case involving alleged theft and unlawful entry?
- Does the existence of a civil land dispute affect the grant of anticipatory bail for offences under Sections 143 and 379 IPC?
- Should the precedent of granting anticipatory bail to similarly situated co‑accused influence the decision in the present application?
Legislation cited
- Code of Criminal Procedure — s. 438
- Indian Penal Code — s. 143, 379
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- Section 438 CrPC
- Sections 143 IPC
- Section 379 IPC
- civil land dispute
- theft
- unlawful entry
- precedent
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.61138 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-123 Year-2023 Thana- KOCHAS District- Rohtas
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1. Uma Ram @ Uma Shankar Ram S/O Late Nakhadu Ram R/o Village-
Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
2. Ram Pravesh Ram S/O Late Mohit Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola-
Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
3. Bihari Ram @ Shyam Bihari Ram S/O Late Fakira Ram R/o Village-
Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
4. Bahadur Ram S/O Late Budhu Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
5. Niwala Devi @ Nibla Devi W/O Ram Pravesh Ram R/o Village- Anhari,
Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
6. Promod Ram @ Pramod Kumar Ram S/O Bechan Ram R/o Village- Anhari,
Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
7. Munshi Ram S/O Dev Nath Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.-
Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
8. Sukar Ram @ Sanjit Ram S/O Shri Bhagwan Ram R/o Village- Anhari,
Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
9. Ramashish Ram S/O Shree Nivas Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
10. Vinod Ram @ Vinod Kumar Ram S/O Bechan Ram R/o Village- Anhari,
Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
11. Pintu Ram S/O Late Bighau Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.-
Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
12. Bechan Ram S/O Late Jagdish Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
13. Mukhlal Ram S/O Late Ramkrit Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
14. Ramdeiya Devi @ Ramdei Devi W/O Mukhlal Ram R/o Village- Anhari,
Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
15. Punam Devi W/O Binod Kumar Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
16. Kumbhwanti Devi @ Kumwanti Devi @ Phulwati Devi W/O Bechan Ram
R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
17. Pratima Devi @ Pramila Devi W/O Dinesh Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola-
Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
18. Dinesh Ram S/O Ram Dayal Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
19. Subedar Ram S/O Shiv Muni Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
20. Ajay Ram @ Ajay Kumar Ram S/O Ram Dayal Ram R/o Village- Anhari,
Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
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21. Dharmawati Devi W/O Manoj Kumar Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola-
Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
22. Chinta Devi W/O Dhanai Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.-
Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
23. Kamla Devi @ Kamali Devi W/O Uma Shankar Ram R/o Village- Anhari,
Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
24. Gujarawati Devi W/O Singasan Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
25. Muniya Devi W/O Butan Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.-
Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
26. Om Prakash Ram S/O Kali Prasad Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola-
Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
27. Bhagwan Ram @ Sri Bhagwan Ram S/O Late Sudama Ram R/o Village-
Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
28. Sahita Ram @ Sachita Ram @ Sachchidanand Ram S/O Lalmuni Ram R/o
Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
29. Bhullan Ram S/O Sachidanand Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
30. Indra Devi W/O Sachita Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.-
Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
31. Jeera Devi @ Neera Devi W/O Bhagwan Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola-
Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
32. Saroj Ram @ Saroj Kumar Ram S/O Ramayan Ram R/o Village- Anhari,
Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
33. Jawahir Ram @ Jawaharlal Ram S/O Late Manghu Ram R/o Village-
Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
34. Durgawati Devi W/O Jawahar Lal Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola-
Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
35. Panna Lal Ram @ Jai Prakash Ram S/O Late Manghu Ram R/o Village-
Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
36. Motilal Ram S/O Late Manghu Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
37. Aarati Devi @ Arti Devi W/O Dashi Prasad Bari @ Dasai Prasad Bari R/o
Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
38. Dasai Bari @ Dashai Prasad Vari @ Dusai Bari S/O Late Ram Bachan Vari
@ Bachan Bari R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.-
Rohtas
39. Jitendra Kumar Ram @ Jitendra Kumar Rai S/O Devnarayan Ram @ Dev
Nath Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
40. Radhika Devi W/O Ravi Ranjan Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
41. Manoj Ram @ Manoj Kumar @ Manoj Kumar Ram S/O Sukhari Ram R/o
Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
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42. Ashok Ram @ Ashok Kumar Ram S/O Kharpatu Ram R/o Village- Anhari,
Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
43. Butan Ram @ Butun Ram S/O Late Fakira Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola-
Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
44. Kanhaiya Ram S/O Late Fakira Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
45. Dipak Ram @ Dipak Kumar Ram S/O Gauri Ram @ Gauri Shankar Ram
R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
46. Mahendra Ram S/O Ramayan Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
47. Urmila Devi W/O Malai Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.-
Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
48. Puspa Devi W/O Kanahiya Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.-
Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
49. Sipahi Ram @ Shipahi Ram S/O Lalmuni Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola-
Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
50. Gauri Ram @ Gauri Shankar Ram S/O late Ramayan Ram R/o Village-
Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
51. Jay Shankar Ram S/O Ramayan Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
52. Jay Prakash Ram S/O Habaldar Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur,
P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
53. Munna Ram S/O Sigasan Ram R/o Village- Anhari, Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.-
Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
54. Sri Nivash Ram @ Shreeniwas Ram S/O Sukhari Ram R/o Village- Anhari,
Tola- Tiwaripur, P.S.- Kochas, Dist.- Rohtas
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar Patna
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Deepak Kumar, Advocate
Mr. Ajay Kumar Prasad, Advocate
Mr. Kamal Kishore Kumar, Advocate
Mr. Vivek Kumar, Advocate
For the State : Mr. Nawal Kishore Pd., A.P.P.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR SINHA
ORAL ORDER
5 07-04-2026 Heard learned Counsel for the petitioners and learned
Additional Public Prosecutor for the State.
2. This application for grant of anticipatory bail, arises
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out of Kochas Police Station Case No. 123 of 2023, disclosing
offences under Sections 143 and 379 of the Indian Penal Code.
3. As per the First Information Report lodged by one
Satyendra Kumar Rai, is that on 12.12.2022 he took a piece of
land on lease in a government auction for the purpose of
cultivation having Khata Nos. 79 and 128; Khesra Nos. 36, 40,
56, 64, 134, 170, 174 and 877; area 82.50 acres. The Rabi crop
became ripe and was ready to be harvested. On 10.04.2023 in
the morning, when the informant went to inspect his farm, he
found that the entire Rabi crop from his land was harvested
illegally by the petitioners and other accused persons.
4. Learned Counsel for the petitioners submits that
there is a bona fide civil dispute between the parties inasmuch
as the petitioners are the red card holders and the landless
person. The purchas have been issued in favour of the
petitioners for the subject land. Similarly situated co-accused
persons have been granted anticipatory bail by a Co-ordinate
Bench of this Hon’ble Court vide order dated 28.10.2024,
passed in Cr. Misc. No. 74262 of 2024.
5. Considering the nature of allegation and the fact
that similarly situated co-accused persons have been granted
anticipatory bail by a Co-ordinate Bench of this Hon’ble Court,
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I am inclined to grant the petitioners privilege of anticipatory
bail.
6. This application is, accordingly, allowed.
7. Let the petitioners, above named, in the event of
their arrest or surrender before the Court below within four
weeks, be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.
20,000/- (Twenty Thousanud) each with two sureties of the like
amount each to the satisfaction of learned 19 th Additional
Sessions Judge, Rohtas at Sasaram, in connection with Kochas
Police Station Case No. 123 of 2023, subject to the condition
laid down under Section 438 (2) of the Code of Criminal
Procedure.
(Anil Kumar Sinha, J)
Siwani/-
U T
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