Patna High Court
Ravi Ranjan Pratap MauryaversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- RAJIV ROY
Holding
The Court grants anticipatory bail to the petitioner, subject to a cash bond and specific conditions.
Summary
Ravi Ranjan Pratap Maurya was arrested in connection with a case alleging assault, robbery, cheating and other offences under sections 323, 341, 342, 379, 406, 420 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code, stemming from a disputed land‑sale transaction where the informant claimed an advance of Rs.5,00,000 was taken and the land not transferred. The petitioner argued that the matter was essentially a civil dispute and offered to pay Rs.3,00,000 in installments, seeking anticipatory bail. The informant opposed the bail but did not contest the payment offer and did not object to the anticipatory bail. The Court, considering the petitioner’s undertaking to pay and the circumstances, granted anticipatory bail with a cash bond and several conditions, including appearance before the trial court and non‑tampering with evidence. The order directs that bail be released within four weeks of the order upon compliance with the stipulated conditions.
Issues considered
- What is the appropriate exercise of discretion by the Court in granting anticipatory bail where the alleged offences arise out of a civil dispute?
- Whether the petitioner’s undertaking to pay a specified amount in installments justifies the grant of anticipatory bail.
Legislation cited
- Indian Penal Code — s. 323, 341, 342, 379, 406, 420, 504
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- civil dispute
- IPC offences
- land sale dispute
- fraud
- robbery
- assault
- bail conditions
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.74359 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-17 Year-2025 Thana- NOKHA District- Rohtas
======================================================
Ravi Ranjan Pratap Maurya S/O Ramji Singh Resident of Village- Samahuta,
PS- Sanjhauli, District- Rohtas
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar
2. Dhanji Choudhary, S/O Basant Choudhary R/O Village and Post- Nokha,
Ward No. 16, District0 Rohtas
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Siddharth Harsh, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mrs. Nirmala Kumari, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY
ORAL ORDER
3 21-01-2026 Heard Mr. Siddharth Harsh, learned counsel for the
petitioner duly assisted by Ms. Nandini, Mr. Ashwani Kumar
Tiwary representing the informant as also the State.
2. The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in
connection with Nokha P.S. Case No. 17 of 2025 for the offence
under sections 323, 341, 342, 379, 406, 420 and 504 of the
Indian Penal Code lodged on 20.01.2025 by the informant,
Dhanji Chaudhary.
3. As per the prosecution story, the petitioner and
unknown persons entered the clinic and after abuse/assault, took
away Rs. 50,000/- and a gold chain. The allegation is that an
advance of Rs. 5,00,000/- was paid by the informant towards
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purchase of the land in the year 2023 and an agreement to sale
was also made but the accused persons fraudulently took away
Rs. 5,00,000/- advance and neither returned the amount nor
registered the land in favour of the informant. This led to the
FIR.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that it is
purely a civil dispute and only to implicate, months later, the
FIR. There is no injury on record and as the land could not be
transferred for the reasons best known to the parties, he is ready
to pay Rs. 3,00,000/- in installment as follows:
“(i) shall be paying Rs. 1,50,000/- at the time
of execution of bail bond;
(ii) Rs. 1,00,000/-by 1st of March, 2026 and;
(iii) Rs. 50,000/- by 1st of April, 2026.”
5. Learned counsel for the informant opposes the
prayer submitting that after agreement, it is the fault on the part
of the petitioner which led to the non-execution of sale deed, he
wanted to usurp the amount and this also followed the
abuse/assault. He, however, submits that when the petitioner is
ready to pay Rs. 3,00,000/-, reserving his right to pursue the
present case, he do not oppose the prayer for anticipatory bail.
6. Considering the submission of the parties and the
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undertaking of the petitioner that he is ready to pay the amount
in installment, as recorded above, and further assured that they
shall be sitting over the table and if any more amount needs to
be cleared, the same shall be paid, in that background, this Court
is inclined to extend him the privilege of anticipatory bail with
conditions.
7. Let the petitioner be released on bail in the event of
arrest or surrender within a period of four weeks from the
receipt of this order, on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 10,000/-
(Ten thousand) with two sureties of like amount each to the
satisfaction of learned Judicial Magistrate, 1st Class, Sasaram,
Rohtas in connection with Nokha P.S. Case No. 17 of 2025
subject to the following conditions:
(i) one of the bailor should be the family
member/relative of the petitioner who shall provide official
document (Aadhaar Card/Voter I.D. Card/Driving License/Pan
Card) to show his/her bona fide;
(ii) the petitioner shall appear on each and every date
before the Trial Court and failure to do so for two consecutive
dates without plausible reason will entail cancellation of his
bail bond by the Trial Court itself;
(iii) the petitioner shall in no way try to induce or
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promise or threat the witnesses or tamper with the evidences,
failing which the State shall be at liberty to take steps for
cancellation of the bail bonds;
(iv) the petitioner shall desist from committing any
criminal offence again, failing which the State shall be at liberty
to take steps for cancellation of his bail bonds.
(Rajiv Roy, J)
Adnan/-
U T
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