Patna High Court
Manjeet SinghversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISMISSED
- Bench
- SANDEEP KUMAR
Holding
Bail was denied to the petitioner.
Summary
Manjeet Singh was charged under multiple IPC sections, Section 12 of the POCSO Act and Section 27 of the Arms Act for allegedly kidnapping a girl who, according to his counsel, had eloped with him. The petitioner filed a second bail application after an earlier denial. The court noted that five of seven witnesses had been examined and considered the seriousness of the offences. The petitioner’s claim of a consensual relationship was not sufficient to outweigh the gravity of the charges. Consequently, the court dismissed the bail application, directing that the trial proceed expeditiously.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted to the petitioner despite the seriousness of the offences under the IPC, POCSO Act and Arms Act.
- Whether the alleged consensual relationship and elopement of the victim justify bail.
- Whether the examination of five out of seven witnesses satisfies the requirement for bail.
Legislation cited
- Arms Act — s. 27
- Indian Penal Code — s. 323, 325, 34, 341, 342, 354, 363, 364-A
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act — s. 12
Subjects
- bail
- kidnapping
- IPC
- POCSO Act
- Arms Act
- criminal procedure
- witness examination
- trial
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.72127 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-68 Year-2024 Thana- SARSI District- Purnia
======================================================
Manjeet Singh S/O Mr. Krishnandan Singh R/O Village- Sarsi Chharapatti,
P.S.- Sarsi, District- Purnea.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar
2. Shail Devi W/O Premjit Kumar Singh R/O Sarsi Chharapatti, P.S- Sarsi,
Distt.- Purnea.
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Krishna Kant Singh, Advocate
Mr.Anil Kumar Sinha, Advocate
For the State : Mr.Prem Kumar Jha, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
3 09-02-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned
APP for the State.
2. This is the second attempt on behalf of the
petitioner for grant of bail in connection with Sarsi P.S. Case
No. 68 of 2024 registered for the offence punishable under
Sections 341/342/323/325/354/363/364-A/34 of the Indian
Penal Code, Section 12 of the POCSO Act and Section 27 of the
Arms Act.
3. Earlier the bail application of the petitioner has
been rejected vide order dated 26.10.2024 passed in Cr. Misc.
No. 58310 of 2024, which reads as under:
“Heard learned counsel for the
petitioner and learned Additional Public
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.72127 of 2025(3) dt.09-02-2026
2/2
Prosecutor for the State.
2. The petitioner seeks bail in
connection with Sarsi P.S. Case No. 68 of 2024
registered for the offence punishable under
Sections 341/342/323/325/354/363/364-A/34 of
the Indian Penal Code, Section 12 of the POCSO
Act and Section 27 of the Arms Act. 3. The
petitioner and other accused persons are said to
have kidnapped the victim from her house on
Scorpio vehicle.
4. It has been submitted by Mr. Ajay
Kumar Thakur, learned counsel for the petitioner
that the victim was in relationship with the
petitioner and therefore, she had eloped with the
petitioner. The petitioner is in jail since
07.04.2024.
5. Considering the serious allegation
against the petitioner, this application is
dismissed.
6. The petitioner may renew his prayer
for bail after the deposition of the victim girl is
recorded.”
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has very fairly
submits that out of seven witnesses, five witnesses have been
examined.
5. In these circumstances, this application is dismissed
again so that the trial is concluded expeditiously.
(Sandeep Kumar, J)
P. Kumar
U T
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