Patna High Court
Ranjeet Poddar @ Ranjeet KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- SOURENDRA PANDEY
Holding
Bail was granted to the petitioner subject to specified conditions.
Summary
The petitioner, Ranjeet Poddar, applied for bail in a case registered under IPC Section 394 and Arms Act Sections 25(1‑B)(a), 26 and 27, alleging robbery and assault with a firearm. The prosecution alleged that the petitioner, along with co‑accused, snatched jewellery and cash, assaulted the informant with a pistol and fired a shot. The petitioner contended he was falsely implicated, not named in the FIR, and only mentioned in a co‑accused’s confessional statement, with no overt act directly attributed to him and no T.I.P. conducted. Despite having two prior criminal antecedents and being in custody since 24‑08‑2025, the court considered the lack of direct evidence and the bail of co‑accused, and granted bail on a Rs 10,000 bond with two sureties and several conditions, including regular reporting to the Superintendent of Police. The order emphasized that its observations would not affect the trial and the application was allowed.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted to the petitioner despite the seriousness of the offences and his criminal antecedents.
- Whether the confessional statement of a co‑accused is sufficient to justify denial of bail.
- Whether the absence of a T.I.P. and recovery of stolen property impacts the bail decision.
Legislation cited
- Arms Act — s. 25(1-B)(a), 26, 27
- Indian Penal Code — s. 394
Subjects
- bail
- robbery
- dacoity
- Arms Act
- criminal antecedents
- confessional statement
- T.I.P.
- high court
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.85481 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-78 Year-2024 Thana- BALIYA District- Begusarai
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Ranjeet Poddar @ Ranjeet Kumar Son of Krishnadev Poddar R/o Village -
Chhoti Ballia, Maulanachak, P.S. - Balia, Dist. - Begusarai.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Y.C. Verma, Sr. Adv.
Mr.Braj Bhusan Poddar, Adv.
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Ram Sumiran Rai, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SOURENDRA PANDEY
ORAL ORDER
2 06-01-2026 Heard learned senior counsel for the petitioner and
learned A.P.P for the State.
2. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with Ballia
P.S. Case No. 78 of 2024 dated 04.03.2024 registered for the
offence punishable under Section 394 of the I.P.C. and Sections
25(1-B)(a), 26 and 27 of the Arms Act.
3. As per the prosecution case, the informant has
alleged that after closing the jewellery shop, the petitioner and the
co-accused persons came there on a motorcycle and snatched
away jewellery and cash from the informant and they also
assaulted the informant with the butt of pistol, fired a shot and
fled away.
4. Learned senior counsel for the petitioner submits that
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.85481 of 2025(2) dt.06-01-2026
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the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this
case. It has further been submitted that the petitioner is not named
in the FIR and his name has surfaced in the confessional
statement of the co-accused, Piyush Kumar. It has further been
submitted that even if the confessional statement of the co-
accused, Piyush Kumar is taken into account, no specific overt act
has been alleged against the petitioner in the present case. It has
next been submitted that till date, no T.I.P. has been conducted
and no recovery has been made from the conscious possession of
the petitioner while the co-accused, namely, Piysh Kumar and the
co-accused, Shubham Kumar have been enlarged on bail by the
Coordinate Benches of this Court vide order dated 21.02.2025
passed in Cr. Misc. No. 11703/2025 and vide order dated
18.10.2024 passed in Cr. Misc. No. 66635/2024 respectively. It is
lastly submitted that the petitioner has two criminal antecedents
and he is in custody since 24.08.2025.
5. Learned A.P.P. has vehemently opposed the prayer
for bail of the petitioner.
6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case,
the petitioner is directed to be released on bail on his furnishing
bail bonds in the sum of Rs. 10,000/- (Ten Thousand) with two
sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned J.M.
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First Class, Begusarai in connection with Ballia P.S. Case No. 78
of 2024 subject to the following terms and conditions :-
(i) One of the bailors will be a close relative of the
petitioner.
(ii) The petitioner shall remain physically present
before the concerned Court on each and every date of the trial and
shall cooperate in the investigation.
(iii) In case of absence on two consecutive dates or in
violation of the terms of the bail, the bail bond of the petitioner
will liable to be cancelled by the Court concerned.
(iv) The trial court shall verify the criminal antecedent
of the petitioner and in case, at any stage, it is found that the
petitioner has concealed his criminal antecedents, the trial court
shall take necessary steps for cancellation of bail bond of the
petitioner. However, the acceptance of bail bond in terms of the
above mentioned order shall not be delayed for purpose of or in
the name of verification.
(v) In view of the antecedents of the petitioner, the
petitioner is directed to appear before the Superintendent of
Police, Begusarai within fifteen (15) days of his release with a
copy of this order and every two weeks thereafter for the next
nine months. The conduct of the petitioner with be kept under
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watch in this period by the concerned Superintendent of Police
and if it is found wanting in any respect, a report shall be made to
the Court concerned by him to initiate a proceeding for
cancellation of bail of the petitioner for reasons of misuse of bail.
After reporting to the Superintendent of Police, a certificate will
be filed by the petitioner before the Court concerned.
7. It is made clear that the observations, if any, made in
this order, shall be of no bearing during the trial.
8. The application stands allowed.
(Sourendra Pandey, J)
Gautam/-
U T
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