Patna High Court
Juli DeviversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- SANDEEP KUMAR
Holding
The court granted bail to the petitioner.
Summary
Juli Devi, the owner of a house where minor girls were allegedly kept, was charged in Rajgir P.S. Case No. 676 of 2025 with offences under the BNS, the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act, the POCSO Act and the Juvenile Justice Act, alleging trafficking and exploitation of minors. She had been in custody since 4 December 2025 and pleaded innocence, claiming she was falsely implicated merely as the property owner. The petitioner’s counsel argued lack of direct involvement and sought bail. The court examined the nature of the allegations and the fact that the petitioner was not directly involved in the exploitation. Considering these factors, the court allowed the bail application, directing release on a bond of Rs. 10,000 with two sureties of the same amount. The order was pronounced by Justice Sandeep Kumar.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted to the accused in a case involving alleged trafficking of minor girls under multiple statutes
- Whether the petitioner’s ownership of the house constitutes sufficient grounds for continued detention
Legislation cited
- BNS — s. 111(4), 143(2), 145, 3(5), 74
- Juvenile Justice Act — s. 75, 79
- POCSO Act — s. 8
Subjects
- bail
- trafficking of minors
- bonded labour
- POCSO
- juvenile justice
- criminal procedure
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.7991 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-676 Year-2025 Thana- RAJGIR District- Nalanda
======================================================
Juli Devi S/o- Ajay Kumar @ Ajay Singh R/o- Bengali Pada Main Bazar PS-
Rajgir Distt-Nalanda at Bihar Sharif
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar Bihar
2. Raman Kumar, SHO, Rajgir, Nalanda Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Gyanendra Kumar Singh
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Md. Mushtaque Alam
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
3 26-03-2026 Heard the parties.
2. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with
Rajgir P.S. Case No. 676 of 2025 registered for the offence
under Sections 143(2), 145, 74, 111(4), 3(5) of the BNS, under
Section 16, 17, 18 of the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act,
under Section 8 of the POCSO Act and under Section 75, 79 of
the JJ Act.
3. As per the prosecution case, the petitioner is
accused of indulged in trafficking of minor girls and supplying
them to some orchestra company where the minor girls were
being exploited.
4. The petitioner is in custody since 04.12.2025.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.7991 of 2026(3) dt.26-03-2026
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the petitioner is innocent and she has falsely been implicated in
this case only because of the fact that she was the owner of the
house in which the girls were kept.
6. Considering the facts of the case and the nature
of allegation levelled against the petitioner, this application is
allowed.
7. Let the petitioner, above named, be released on
bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- (Ten Thousand)
with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of
the learned concerned Court below in connection with Rajgir
P.S. Case No. 676 of 2025.
(Sandeep Kumar, J)
Vikas/-
U
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