Patna High Court
Ranju DeviversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- PARTLY ALLOWED (DISPOSAL)
- Bench
- SONI SHRIVASTAVA
Holding
The court granted bail to Ranju Devi.
Summary
Ranju Devi was arrested in connection with the murder of an informant's daughter, alleged to have been brutally assaulted and killed, with the case registered under Sections 103(1), 238 and 3(5) of the B.N.S. The FIR was lodged three days after the incident and the charge‑sheet had already been filed, while the petitioner had been in custody since 6 February 2025. The petitioner’s counsel highlighted the delay in filing the FIR, the absence of any alleged motive, and the fact that she is a woman who had been detained for a substantial period. The State opposed bail, arguing that the accused had also cremated the body without a post‑mortem. Considering the delay, the completed charge‑sheet, the prolonged detention, and the petitioner’s gender, the court ordered her release on bail upon furnishing a Rs.10,000 bond with two sureties.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted to Ranju Devi despite the seriousness of the offence and alleged involvement in murder and cremation without post‑mortem
- Whether the delay in lodging the FIR and the filing of the charge‑sheet justify bail
- Whether the petitioner’s gender and prolonged pre‑trial detention warrant bail
Legislation cited
- B.N.S. — s. 103(1), 238, 3(5)
Subjects
- bail
- criminal procedure
- delay in FIR
- charge sheet
- murder
- gender
- surety
- Bihar
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.75206 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-21 Year-2025 Thana- SHANKARPUR District- Madhepura
======================================================
1. Ranju Devi Wife of Kusho Rishideo Resident of Village - Sonbarsa, Ward
no. 6, P.S. - Shankarpur, District - Madhepura.
2. Kusho Rishideo Son of Late Janardan Rishideo Resident of Village -
Sonbarsa, Ward no. 6, P.S. - Shankarpur, District - Madhepura.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar Patna
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Ms. Pooja Prasad, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Ram Sumiran Rai, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. SONI SHRIVASTAVA
ORAL ORDER
3 13-02-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and
learned APP for the State.
2. After some arguments, learned counsel for the
petitioners prays for withdrawal of the present bail application
on behalf of the petitioner no.2, namely Kusho Rishideo in order
to renew his prayer at an appropriate stage.
3. Permission is accorded.
4. Accordingly, this application with regard to
petitioner no.2 is dismissed as withdrawn.
5. Now, this application survives only with regard
to petitioner no.1, namely Ranju Devi.
6. The petitioner seeks bail in a case registered for
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the offence punishable under Sections 103(1), 238, 3(5) of the
B.N.S.
7. As per the prosecution case, the petitioner along
with other co-accused are said to have killed the daughter of
the informant by brutally assaulting her.
8. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits
that there is a delay of three days in lodging of the First
Information Report and there are general and omnibus
allegations of assaulting the daughter of the informant,
however, no motive has been alleged as to why the said assault
was made upon the deceased. Further, the petitioner has
remained in custody since 06.02.2025 and she is a lady against
whom charge-sheet has already been submitted.
9. Learned APP for the State opposed the grant of
bail on the ground that all the accused persons including the
present petitioner indulged in assault and even cremated the
dead body without postmortem being done.
10. Taking into consideration the facts and
circumstances and also considering the factum of delay in the
F.I.R., coupled with the fact that the petitioner is a lady, who
has remained in custody for substantial period of time and the
charge-sheet has been submitted and no substantial progress in
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the case having been made, let the above named petitioner,
namely, Ranju Devi, be released 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 A.C.J.M.-I,
Madhepura/concerned Court below in connection with
Shankarpur P.S. Case No. 21 of 2025.
(Soni Shrivastava, J)
anand/-
U T
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