Patna High Court

Vinod Thakur @ Binod ThakurversusThe State of Bihar

Decided: 9 January 2026
Disposal: BAIL GRANTED
Bench: SHAILENDRA SINGH

Holding

The Court granted regular bail to the petitioner.

Summary

The petitioner, Vinod Thakur, was arrested in connection with a dowry death case (Matihani P.S. Case No. 139 of 2025) and charged under Sections 80(2), 238 and 3(5) of the BNS 2023. He alleged that he was merely an e‑rickshaw driver hired by co‑accused to transport the deceased's daughter to a hospital and, under their direction, later carried the dead body to the Ganga River, having no familial ties to the victim's in‑laws. The petitioner highlighted his clean criminal record, the fact that he had been in custody since 30‑07‑2025, and that the investigation against him was complete. The State opposed the bail, contending his alleged involvement in the dowry death. The Court, considering the petitioner’s antecedents, the completed investigation, and the circumstances of his alleged participation, decided to grant regular bail. Accordingly, the petitioner was released on bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs. 20,000 with two sureties of the same amount.

Issues considered

Whether the petitioner is entitled to regular bail despite allegations of participation in a dowry death
Whether the petitioner’s role as an e‑rickshaw driver absolves him from culpability under the charged sections

Legislation cited

BNS, 2023 — s. 238, 3(5), 80(2)

Subjects

bail
dowry death
criminal procedure
e‑rickshaw driver
BNS 2023
Sections 80(2)
Section 238
Section 3(5)

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.86852 of 2025
                     Arising Out of PS. Case No.-139 Year-2025 Thana- MATIHANI District- Begusarai
                 ======================================================
                 Vinod Thakur @ Binod Thakur Son of Dinesh Thakur Resident of Village -
                 Zilla Punarwas (Zilla Punarvas), Ward No.- 09, Simha, P.S.- Matihani,
                 District - Begusarai.
                                                                        ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                  Versus
                 The State of Bihar
                                                                 ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s    :        Mr. Sandip Kumar Gautam, Advocate
                 For the State           :        Mr. Pramod Kumar Pandey, APP
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SHAILENDRA SINGH
                                       ORAL ORDER

2   09-01-2026                     Heard Mr. Sandip Kumar Gautam, learned counsel

                   for the Petitioner and Mr. Pramod Kumar Pandey, learned APP

                   for the State.

                                  2. Petitioner seeks regular bail in connection with

                   Matihani P.S. Case No. 139 of 2025 dated 29.07.2025

                   registered for the offences punishable under Sections 80(2), 238

                   and 3(5) of the BNS 2023.

                                 3. The main submissions advanced by the petitioner’s

                   counsel are that although the present case relates to dowry death

                   but the petitioner is not related in any manner to the sasural

                   family of the deceased, Laxmi Kumari and as per the

                   prosecution allegation, the petitioner is said to have carried and

                   thrown the dead body into the Ganga River; however, the

                   petitioner is an e-rickshaw owner and driver who was merely
           Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.86852 of 2025(2) dt.09-01-2026
                                                       2/2




                     hired by the co-accused persons to carry the informant’s

                     daughter to the hospital but before reaching the hospital, the

                     petitioner was directed by the co-accused to proceed towards the

                     Ganga River, thus, the petitioner carried the dead body only in

                     the capacity of an e-rickshaw driver. It is lastly submitted that

                     the petitioner bears no criminal antecedent, has been

                     languishing in jail since 30.07.2025 and against him, the

                     investigation has been completed.

                                  4. Learned APP for the State has opposed the prayer

                     for bail of the petitioner.

                                  5. Considering the above submissions, averments

                     made in this application, petitioner’s fair and clean antecedent,

                     his custody period and the completion of investigation against

                     him, this Court is inclined to release the petitioner on bail.

                     Accordingly, let the petitioner named-above be released on bail

                     on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 20,000/- (Rupees Twenty

                     Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the

                     satisfaction of the concerned Court in connection with Matihani

                     P.S. Case No. 139 of 2025.


                                               (Shailendra Singh, J)
maynaz/-

U     T

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