Patna High Court

Niranjan Prasad Dangi @ Niranjan AminversusThe Vigilance Department through its Director, Bihar, Patna

Decided: 19 February 2026
Disposal: BAIL GRANTED
Bench: SONI SHRIVASTAVA

Holding

Bail was granted to the petitioner.

Summary

The petitioner, Niranjan Prasad Dangi, applied for bail in a case registered under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, alleging that he was caught red‑handed by a vigilance trap team with Rs 1,00,000 as bribe money. He contended that the trap was staged, no video recording or seizure list was prepared, and the incident occurred near a bus stand. He has been in custody since 11 July 2025, with the charge‑sheet filed on 2 September 2025 and the charge‑framing scheduled for the day of the hearing. The vigilance department opposed bail, asserting the red‑handed nature of the alleged offence. The court, noting the petitioner’s lack of criminal antecedents, the filing of the charge‑sheet, and the upcoming charge‑framing, granted bail on a bond of Rs 10,000 with two sureties, deeming continued detention unnecessary.

Issues considered

Whether bail should be granted to an accused under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act when the alleged red‑handed capture is contested and procedural lapses are alleged.

Legislation cited

Prevention of Corruption Act — s. 7(a)

Subjects

bail
Prevention of Corruption Act
Section 7(a)
vigilance trap
red‑handed capture
procedural lapses
no criminal antecedent

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.75015 of 2025
                       Arising Out of PS. Case No.-50 Year-2025 Thana- VIGILANCE District- Patna
                 ======================================================
                 Niranjan Prasad Dangi @ Niranjan Amin S/o Late Ramdhari Dangi @
                 Nemdhari Dangi R/o Village- Pitis, P.S.- Etkhori, District- Chatra (Jharkhand)
                                                                                   ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                   Versus
                 The Vigilance Department through its Director, Bihar, Patna Bihar

                                                        ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s    :        Mr. Sauravh Singh
                 For the Vigilance       :        Mr. Arvind Kumar
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. SONI SHRIVASTAVA
                                       ORAL ORDER

5   19-02-2026                   Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned

                   counsel for the Vigilance.

                                 2. The petitioner seeks bail in a case registered for the

                   offence punishable under Section 7(a) of Prevention of

                   Corruption Act.

                                 3. Allegation against the petitioner is that he was

                   caught red handed by the vigilance trap team with bribe money

                   of Rs. 1,00,000/-.

                                 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the

                   petitioner never demanded any bribe and rather the entire trap

                   case is stage managed and it is also a fact that no videography

                   has been done at the time of the trap. It is further submitted that

                   the entire occurrence took place near the bus stand but the
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.75015 of 2025(5) dt.19-02-2026
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          seizure list was not prepared at the place of occurrence. Further,

          the petitioner, who is Anchal Amin, is in custody since

          11.07.2025 and the charge-sheet was submitted on 02.09.2025.

          It has also been submitted that today is the date fixed in the

          vigilance court for framing of charge.

                       5. Learned counsel for the vigilance has opposed the

          application for bail by submitting that the petitioner had been

          caught red handed.

                           6. Taking into consideration the facts and

          circumstances and also considering the fact that the petitioner

          has now remained in custody and the charge-sheet has already

          been submitted as such, no useful purpose would be served by

          keeping the petitioner behind bars and further taking into

          consideration the fact that the case is also posted for framing of

          charge today and the petitioner undertakes to appear and get the

          charges framed, let the above named petitioner, who has no

          criminal antecedent be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail bond

          of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the

          like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned court below

          where the case is pending/successor court in connection with

          Vigilance P.S. Case No. 50 of 2025.

                           7. However, the learned court concerned before
             Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.75015 of 2025(5) dt.19-02-2026
                                                         3/3




                       accepting bail bonds of the petitioner would ensure that the

                       charges have been framed as submitted by the learned counsel

                       for the petitioner.



                                                 (Soni Shrivastava, J)
devendra/-

U      T

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