Patna High Court
Karan VermaversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- RAJESH KUMAR VERMA
Holding
Bail was granted to the petitioner subject to specified conditions.
Summary
Karan Verma, a bench clerk in the Danapur Judgeship, was arrested on 26 September 2025 for alleged forgery of an Additional Sessions Judge’s signature to grant bail to accused persons, under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) and 3(5) of the Bihar Negotiable Instruments Act, 2023. The petitioner contended that he has a clean service record since 2011, that the allegations are fabricated, and that he had no role in manipulating any order. The prosecution opposed bail, asserting the seriousness of the forgery charges. The court, after considering the petitioner’s clean antecedent and lack of evidence that he signed on behalf of the judge, ordered his release on bail of Rs.10,000 with two sureties, subject to conditions of cooperation, appearance, and non‑tampering with evidence. The bail order also directed verification of the petitioner’s criminal antecedent without delaying the acceptance of bail bonds.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted to the petitioner accused of forgery and related offences under the Bihar Negotiable Instruments Act, 2023.
Subjects
- bail
- forgery
- bench clerk
- criminal procedure
- Bihar Negotiable Instruments Act
- high court
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.84451 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-1202 Year-2024 Thana- DANAPUR District- Patna
======================================================
Karan Verma S/o Late Pramod Kumar Verma R/o Road No. 3/4, Chitrakut
Nagar, Takiapar, P.S.- Danapur, Distt.- Patna
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Amresh Kumar Sinha, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Ms. Shaheen Begum, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR VERMA
ORAL ORDER
3 19-01-2026 Heard Mr. Amresh Kumar Sinha, learned counsel
for the petitioner and Ms. Shaheen Begum, learned Additional
Public Prosecutor for the State.
2. Petitioner seeks bail who is in custody since
26.09.2025 in connection with Danapur P.S. Case No. 1202 of
2024, F.I.R. dated 30.11.2024 for the offences punishable under
Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) and 3(5) of the
BNS, 2023.
3. According to prosecution case, it is alleged by the
informant who is District & Additional Sessions Judge 3 rd
Danapur that he was in charge of Additional Sessions Judge 7th
Danapur and this petitioner being the bench clerk has
manipulated the order by making his forged signature and
granted bail to the accused persons.
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.84451 of 2025(3) dt.19-01-2026
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4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner has clean antecedent and he has falsely been
implicated in the present case. The allegation as alleged in the
F.I.R is false and fabricated and the petitioner has not committed
any offence as alleged in the F.I.R. The petitioner was posted as
bench clerk cum office clerk in Danapur Judgeship in the Court
of learned Additional District & Sessions Judge 7 th Danapur and
he has joined his services in the year 2011 and was discharging
his duties without any complaint having clean service records.
When the learned Additional District & Sessions Judge 7th was in
training then the Additional District & Sessions Judge 3 rd
Danapur was in charge of learned Additional District & Sessions
Judge 7th Danapur and the petitioner has no role in the present
occurrence and the petitioner was the custodian of the record but
he has not manipulated the sign of learned Additional District &
Sessions Judge 3rd Danapur and the petitioner has been made
accused in this case merely on the basis of suspicion. The
petitioner has annexed different orders of the learned Additional
District & Sessions Judge 3rd Danapur which suggest that the
sign of the presiding officer is same. The petitioner is in custody
since 26.09.2025.
5. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor has
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.84451 of 2025(3) dt.19-01-2026
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vehemently opposed the prayer for bail of the petitioner.
6. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances
that the petitioner has clean antecedent and he has not signed on
behalf of the presiding officer in question, 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 ACJM-I, Danapur in
connection with Danapur P.S. Case No. 1202 of 2024, subject to
the following conditions:-
i. Petitioner shall co-operate in the trial and shall be
properly represented on each and every date fixed by the court
and shall remain physically present as directed by the court and
on his absence on two consecutive dates without sufficient
reason, his bail bond shall be cancelled by the Court below.
ii. If the petitioner tampers with the evidence or the
witnesses, in that case, the prosecution will be at liberty to
move for cancellation of bail.
iii. And further condition that the court below shall
verify the criminal antecedent of the petitioner and in case at
any stage it is found that the petitioner has concealed his
criminal antecedent, the court below shall take step for
cancellation of bail bond of the petitioner. However, the
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.84451 of 2025(3) dt.19-01-2026
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acceptance of bail bonds in terms of the above-mentioned order
shall not be delayed for purpose of or in the name of
verification.
(Rajesh Kumar Verma, J)
Vanisha/-
U T
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