Patna High Court
Ravi ManjhiversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- R P MISHRA
Holding
Bail was granted to the petitioner.
Summary
Ravi Manjhi was arrested in connection with a case involving theft of iron from a mine and assault on guards, charged under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The prosecution’s case relied on the testimony of co‑accused Vikas Manjhi, whose confessional statement implicated the petitioner, but no incriminating material was found on him and he denied being present at the incident. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the injuries were minor, the confessional statement lacked evidentiary value, and the petitioner had two prior criminal records. The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the offences. Considering the lack of direct evidence, the petitioner’s custody duration, and the nature of the injuries, the court granted bail on a bond of Rs.15,000 with two sureties.
Issues considered
- Whether the petitioner is entitled to bail despite the seriousness of the offences and prior criminal antecedents
- Whether a confessional statement of a co‑accused can be the sole basis for implicating the petitioner
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — s. 109(1), 115(2), 126(2), 303(2), 3(5), 351(2), 352
Subjects
- bail
- criminal procedure
- confessional statement
- co‑accused testimony
- evidentiary value
- prior criminal antecedents
- theft
- assault
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.77280 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-62 Year-2025 Thana- CHEWARA District- Sheikhpura
======================================================
Ravi Manjhi Son of Mithalesh Manjhi Resident of Village-Barari Bigha, P.S.-
Chewara, District- Sheikhpura
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opp
osite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Satish Kumar, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Choubey Jawahar, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RUDRA PRAKASH
MISHRA
ORAL ORDER
3 03-02-2026 Heard Mr. Satish Kumar, learned counsel for the
petitioner, Mr. Choubey Jawahar, learned APP for the State and
perused the case diary.
2. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with
Chewara P.S. Case No. 62 of 2025, instituted for the offences
punishable under Sections 126(2), 115(2), 303(2), 109(1),
351(2), 352 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
3. The prosecution case, in short, is that co-accused
persons were stealing iron from the mine and on raising
objection by the guards, other co-accused persons assaulted
them by means of lathi-danda and other lethal weapons due to
which they sustained injuries.
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.77280 of 2025(3) dt.03-02-2026
2/3
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
petitioner is innocent and has falsely been implicated in the
present case. Charge-sheet has been submitted in this case. No
incriminating material has been recovered from the conscious
possession of the petitioner. Learned counsel for the petitioner
also submitted that the petitioner has neither committed any
offence nor he was present at the place of occurrence. Name of
the petitioner has transpired in this case only on the basis of
confessional statement made by co-accused, namely, Vikas
Manjhi and the same has got no evidentiary value. It is further
submitted that the injuries sustained by the injured are simple in
nature. The petitioner is in custody since 04.09.2025 and has got
two criminal antecedents.
5. Learned APP for the State has vehemently opposed
the prayer for grant of bail to the petitioner.
6. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances
of the case and taking into account the period of custody
undergone by the petitioner, this Court is inclined to grant bail
to the petitioner.
7. Let the petitioner be released on bail on furnishing
bail bonds of Rs. 15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand) with two
sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of Court
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.77280 of 2025(3) dt.03-02-2026
3/3
below/concerned Court in connection with Chewara P.S. Case
No. 62 of 2025.
(Rudra Prakash Mishra, J)
Rajorshi/-
U T
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