Patna High Court

Sachchidanand Singh @ Bechan Singh @ Sachidanand SinghversusThe State of Bihar

Decided: 4 February 2026
Disposal: BAIL REJECTED
Bench: PRABHAT KUMAR SINGH

Holding

The Court denied pre‑arrest bail to the petitioner.

Summary

The petitioner, Sachchidanand Singh, was arrested on allegations of illegally consuming electricity by tampering with the meter, resulting in a revenue loss of Rs. 4,11,837 to South Bihar Power Distribution Co. Ltd. He claimed to be a bona‑fide consumer since 2016 and asserted that he had previously lodged a complaint against an assistant engineer, which was resolved in his favour. The State opposed his pre‑arrest bail, emphasizing the specific allegation, the seizure report, the substantial loss, and the petitioner’s prior criminal record. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the case was fabricated and that no prior complaint had been made against him. The Court, after weighing the nature of the accusation, the gravity of the offence, and the petitioner’s antecedents, rejected the prayer for pre‑arrest bail.

Issues considered

Whether the petitioner is entitled to pre‑arrest bail under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003
Whether the allegations and seizure report constitute sufficient grounds to deny bail
Whether the petitioner’s prior criminal antecedent warrants refusal of bail

Legislation cited

Electricity Act, 2003 — s. 135

Subjects

pre‑arrest bail
electricity theft
Section 135
revenue loss
criminal antecedent

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.6183 of 2026
                  Arising Out of PS. Case No.-39 Year-2023 Thana- SASARAM MUFFSIL District- Rohtas
                 ======================================================
                 Sachchidanand Singh @ Bechan Singh @ Sachidanand Singh S/o Parsuram
                 Singh R/o Village - Mahadiganj, P.S - Sasaram (M), District - Rohtas

                                                                                ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                      Versus
           1.    The State of Bihar
           2.    The Managing Director, South Bihar Power Distribution Co. Ltd., Vidyut
                 Bhawan, Patna Bihar

                                                        ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s     :      Mr. Rakesh Kumar Mishra, Advocate
                 For the Opposite Party/s :      Mr. Ram Sevak Choudhary, APP
                 For SBPDCL               :      Mr. Deepak Kumar , Advocate
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PRABHAT KUMAR SINGH
                                       ORAL ORDER

2   04-02-2026                       Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the

                   State .

                                2. Petitioner apprehends arrest in a case registered for

                   the offence punishable under section 135 Electricity Act, 2003 .

                                3 . As per the prosecution case, on a secret

                   information, a raid was conducted in the premises of this

                   petitioner, where it was found that he was illegally consuming

                   electricity by using separate wire for 3 phases to manipulate the

                   actual reading of meter and as a result of which, South Bihar

                   Power Distribution Company Limited suffered revenue loss of

                   Rs. 4,11,837/-.

                                4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
            Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.6183 of 2026(2) dt.04-02-2026
                                                        2/2




                      petitioner is innocent and has falsely been implicated in this

                      case . Petitioner is bonafide and old consumer since 2016 and

                      till date no complain was made against this petitioner. As a

                      matter of fact, this petitioner made complaint against Assistant

                      Engineer Electricity Supply Division Sasaram, before the Sub

                      Divisional Lok Shikayat Navaran Officer, Sasaram Rohtas and

                      an order has been passed in the case on 28.06.2023 .

                                   5 . Learned counsel for the State opposed the prayer

                      for bail and submitted that there is direct and specific allegation

                      against this petitioner that he illegally consumed electricity and

                      caused revenue loss to government. Seizure report of the case

                      also corroborates the alleged offence and there is total loss of

                      Rs. 4,11,837 was caused to the SBPDCL. Petitioner has got 1

                      criminal antecedent.

                                   6. Considering the nature of accusation , criminal

                      antecedent         of petitioner, gravity of offence and other

                      circumstances, prayer for pre-arrest bail of the petitioner is

                      rejected.



                                            (Prabhat Kumar Singh, J)
Koushik/-

U      T

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