Patna High Court

Karan Kumar @ Karan TantiversusThe State of Bihar

Decided: 20 February 2026
Disposal: BAIL GRANTED
Bench: R P MISHRA

Holding

Bail was granted to the petitioner.

Summary

The petitioner, Karan Kumar, was arrested in connection with a murder (IPC Sections 302 & 34) and an offence under Section 27 of the Arms Act. The deceased, Pintu Das, was shot by unknown assailants, and the petitioner’s name surfaced only through confessional statements of co‑accused, not in the FIR, with no material recovered from him. He has been in custody since 21‑May‑2025 and possesses two prior criminal antecedents. The petitioner argued false implication and parity with a co‑accused who had already been granted bail. The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the offences. The Court, considering the lack of direct evidence, the petitioner’s custody period, and parity, granted bail on a bond of Rs.15,000 with two sureties.

Issues considered

Whether bail should be granted to the petitioner in a murder and arms‑act case where the only evidence is confessional statements of co‑accused.
Whether the petitioner’s prior criminal antecedents preclude bail.
Whether parity with a co‑accused who obtained bail warrants granting bail to the petitioner.

Legislation cited

Arms Act — s. 27
Indian Penal Code — s. 302, 34

Subjects

bail
murder
IPC 302
IPC 34
Arms Act 27
criminal antecedents
confessional statements
parity
pre‑trial detention

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.85787 of 2025
                   Arising Out of PS. Case No.-262 Year-2023 Thana- SULTANGANJ District- Bhagalpur
                 ======================================================
                 Karan Kumar @ Karan Tanti Son of Late Sunil Tanti R/o village- Abjuganj,
                 Ps- Sultanganj, Dist- Bhagalpur

                                                                                 ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                      Versus
                 The State of Bihar

                                                        ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s     :      Mr. Indeshwari Prasad Mandal, Advocate
                 For the Opposite Party/s :      Mr. Rajendra Singh, APP
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RUDRA PRAKASH
                 MISHRA
                                       ORAL ORDER

4   20-02-2026             Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned APP

                   for the State. Perused the case diary.

                           2.      The petitioner seeks bail in connection with S.T.

                   No. 595 of 2025, arising out of Sultanganj P.S. Case No. 262 of

                   2023 instituted for the offence under Sections 302 & 34 of the

                   Indian Penal Code and Section 27 of the Arms Act.

                           3.      As per the F.I.R., the Pintu Das (deceased), a

                   Scorpio driver, was shot dead at Abjuganj Chowk in the night by

                   three unknown persons who had earlier followed a co-villager to

                   whom he had offered a lift. The informant, father of the

                   deceased, was informed by the driver’s son, and the deceased

                   was declared brought dead at Sultanganj Hospital.

                           4.      It has been submitted on behalf of the petitioner
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.85787 of 2025(4) dt.20-02-2026
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          that the petitioner is in custody since 21.05.2025. Petitioner

          bears two (2) criminal antecedents, as per disclosure made in

          paragraph No. 3 of the bail application.

                  5.      It has been further submitted by the petitioner’s

          counsel that petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present

          case. Petitioner is not named in the FIR. Name of the petitioner

          has transpired on the basis of confessional statement of co-

          accused, namely, Shanku Sah and Laxmi Devi. Nothing has

          been recovered from the conscious possession of the petitioner.

          Petitioner was not even put on T.I. Parade to ascertain his

          complicity in the alleged occurrence. Save and except,

          confessional statement, there is no material against the

          petitioner. Charge sheet has already been submitted in this case.

          Other co-accused has been granted bail by a Co-ordinate Bench

          of this Court vide order dated 27.01.2025, passed in Cr. Misc.

          No. 35185 of 2024.

                  6.      Learned A.P.P. for the State has vehemently

          opposed the prayer for grant of bail to the petitioner.

                  7.      Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances

          of the case, period of custody of the petitioner and claim based

          on parity, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner.

                  8.      Let the petitioner be released on bail on furnishing
           Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.85787 of 2025(4) dt.20-02-2026
                                                       3/3




                     bail bonds of Rs. 15,000/- (Fifteen Thousand) with two sureties

                     of the like amount each to the satisfaction of Court

                     below/concerned Court in connection with S.T. No. 595 of

                     2025, arising out of Sultanganj P.S. Case No. 262 of 2023.



                                                                 (Rudra Prakash Mishra, J)
Raj Kishore/-

U      T

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