Patna High Court
Puja JhaversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL REJECTED
- Bench
- RAJIV ROY
Holding
The anticipatory bail application is rejected.
Summary
Puja Jha applied for anticipatory bail in a case involving murder, conspiracy and illegal arms offences (IPC ss.302, 201, 120(B), 34 and Arms Act s.27) arising from a 2012 FIR. Earlier anticipatory bail applications were rejected in 2014 and again in December 2025. The petitioner argued there was no material linking her to the crime except possession of the deceased's mobile phone. The State contended that she had been aware of the case since 2014, deliberately delayed surrender for a decade, and therefore should not be granted relief. The High Court held that the petitioner’s long inaction and prior rejections preclude the grant of anticipatory bail. The court dismissed the anticipatory bail application, directing her to surrender within four weeks and then seek regular bail, if appropriate.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail can be granted to a petitioner who has previously had such applications rejected and has delayed surrender for a decade.
- Whether the petitioner’s alleged connection to the case, limited to possession of the deceased’s mobile phone, suffices to justify anticipatory bail.
Legislation cited
- Arms Act — s. 27
- Indian Penal Code — s. 120(B), 201, 302, 34
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- murder
- conspiracy
- illegal arms
- Indian Penal Code
- delay in surrender
- bail jurisprudence
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.8243 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-67 Year-2012 Thana- BAUNSI District- Banka
======================================================
Puja Jha Wife of Ajimuddin Khan Resident of Village- Husenpur, P.S.-
Sadipur, District- Dumka (Jharkhand)
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Brij Nandan Prasad, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Jitendra Kumar Singh, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY
ORAL ORDER
3 22-04-2026 Heard learned Senior counsel for the petitioner duly
assisted by Mr. Brij Nandan Prasad and Mr. Jitendra Kumar
Singh, learned APP.
2. The petitioner is apprehending her arrest in
connection with Baunsi P.S. Case No. 67 of 2012 for the offence
under sections 302, 201, 120(B) and 34 of the Indian Penal
Code and 27 of the Arms Act, lodged on 13.05.2012.
3. As per the prosecution story, the informant alleged
that his brother, a truck driver, loaded with goods of Jain
Carrying Transport, Kolkata unloaded it in Bhagalpur on
10.05.2012, loaded maize crops from Nathnagar, Bhagalpur to
Kolkata. Three persons accompanied him and they took meal,
and later, they forcibly stopped the truck near a hill, assaulted
the cleaner and took away the driver who was found dead the
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.8243 of 2026(3) dt.22-04-2026
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next day. This led to the FIR.
4. As the story unfolds, the role of the petitioner also
cropped up which made her to approach the concerned Sessions
Court by filing anticipatory bail application. It was rejected in
ABP Case No. 335 of 2014 vide order dated 08.07.2014.
5. Eleven years later, another anticipatory bail was
filed before the learned Sessions Judge, Banka which again
came to be rejected on 04.12.2025. This is how the present
anticipatory bail has been filed.
6. Learned Senior counsel for the petitioner submits
that there is nothing on record to implicate her save and expect
the fact that the mobile of the deceased was by her paramour.
7. Mr. Jitendra Kumar Singh, learned APP submits
that her name cropped her twelve years ago, she preferred
anticipatory bail in the year 2014 and despite the knowledge of
the rejection of the anticipatory bail, waited for ten long years
before coming again and as such, she do not deserve the relief
sought for.
8. Considering the submission of the parties, this
Court is in full conformity with the submission put forward by
the learned APP, a death took place, petitioner’s name cropped
up, she had the knowledge about it at least in the year 2014,
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.8243 of 2026(3) dt.22-04-2026
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preferred anticipatory bail which came to be rejected. For a
decade, she choose not to surrender and now wants relief which
cannot be allowed.
9. The anticipatory bail application stands rejected.
10. If she surrenders in four weeks and prays for bail,
the Court concerned shall take up the matter and without being
prejudiced by any comment made in the order shall be taking it
up and while disposing the bail application shall look into the
other orders which may have been passed in the case of other
accused persons.
(Rajiv Roy, J)
Adnan/-
U
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