Patna High Court
Ranjeet Shankar PrasadversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- ALLOWED
- Bench
- ASHOK KUMAR PANDEY
Holding
The court granted regular bail to the petitioner subject to conditions of cooperation and appearance.
Summary
The petitioner, Ranjeet Shankar Prasad, a chief cooperative officer, was charged under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 25,000 from the elected president of a PACS in connection with a godown construction application. The prosecution alleged that the petitioner received the money both before and after a trap operation, while the defence argued that the application had already been forwarded and rejected, leaving no occasion for a demand of hush money. The petitioner also highlighted his clean criminal record and that he had been in judicial custody since 24 September 2025. The vigilance department opposed bail, emphasizing the alleged receipt of the bribe. After considering the facts, the court decided to grant regular bail on the condition that the petitioner cooperate with the trial and remain physically present when required. The bail was ordered on a bond of Rs 10,000 with two sureties of the same amount.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail should be granted to an accused under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act despite allegations of receiving a bribe
- Whether the circumstances of the alleged transaction justify denial of bail
Legislation cited
- Prevention of Corruption Act — s. 7(a)
Subjects
- bail
- Prevention of Corruption Act
- Section 7(a)
- bribery
- hush money
- vigilance
- criminal procedure
- regular bail
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.85162 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-84 Year-2025 Thana- VIGILANCE District- Patna
======================================================
Ranjeet Shankar Prasad Son of Late Tapodhan Shankar Prasad Chief co-
operative officer Begusarai, R/o Ward No. 5 Dularpur, P.S.- Haveli
Khagargpur, District - Munger
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar
2. Vigilance Dept. through D.G. Vigilance 4th Floor, Suchana Bhawan, Patna
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. N.K. Agrawal, Sr. Advocate
Mr. Kumar Rajdeep, Advocate
Mr. Anuj Dilbar Krishna, Advocate
For the State : Mr. Parmeshwar Mehta, APP
For the Vigilance : Mr. Arvind Kumar, Spl.P.P.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK KUMAR PANDEY
ORAL ORDER
3 04-02-2026 Heard learned Senior counsel for the petitioner,
learned APP for the State and learned Spl.P.P. for the Vigilance.
2. The petitioner has prayed for regular bail in a case
registered for the offence punishable under Section 7(a) of the
Prevention of Corruption Act.
3. The case of the prosecution, in short, is that the
informant is elected president of PACS. He has given an
application on 17.02.2025 for the construction of Godown of
PACS. It is further alleged that the petitioner has demanded
Rs.25,000/- for forwarding the same. It is further alleged that
pre-trap and post-trap it was found that the petitioner has
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.85162 of 2025(3) dt.04-02-2026
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received Rs.25,000/- from the informant.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted
that from perusal of page-22 of the brief it will transpire with
the application given by the informant was forwarded by him on
17.02.2025 in which it is alleged that on 15.09.2025 that he has
demanded hush money of Rs.25,000/-. It has further been
submitted that from perusal of page-30 of brief it will transpire
that the proposal which was being forwarded by the petitioner
was rejected on 16.04.2025. As such, it has been submitted that
there was no occasion for the petitioner to demand hush money
as no such application was pending. Learned counsel for the
petitioner has further submitted that petitioner is having no
criminal antecedent and he is in judicial custody since
24.09.2025.
5. Learned Spl.P.P. for Vigilance Department has
vehemently opposed the bail and has submitted that in pre-trap
and post-trap it was found that petitioner has received
Rs.25,000/- from the informant.
6. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances
of the case, this court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail
with the condition that the petitioner shall co-operate in the trial
and shall remain physically present in the learned trial court
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.85162 of 2025(3) dt.04-02-2026
3/3
whenever required. The above named petitioner is directed to be
released on bail in connection with Vigilance P.S. Case No. 84
of 2025 on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (ten thousand)
with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of
learned Additional Session Judge-II-cum-Special Judge
(Vigilance), Bhagalpur.
(Ashok Kumar Pandey, J)
durgesh/-
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