Patna High Court
Ranjeet Prasad GuptaversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- PARTHA SARTHY
Holding
The court ordered that the petitioner be released on regular bail.
Summary
Petitioner Ranjeet Prasad Gupta, a village Mukhiya, was arrested in connection with allegations of embezzlement of public funds under several sections of the Indian Penal Code. The complaint was lodged by the husband of a Ward Member, and the petitioner claimed the case was politically motivated. He had been in custody since 22 August 2025 and a chargesheet had already been filed. The petitioner sought regular bail, undertaking cooperation with the investigation. The court, noting the prolonged pre‑trial detention of over seven months and the filing of the chargesheet, granted bail on a bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail should be granted to the accused in a case involving multiple IPC offences of embezzlement and related charges.
- Whether the length of pre‑trial detention and filing of the chargesheet justify bail.
Legislation cited
- Indian Penal Code — s. 120B, 34, 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471
Subjects
- regular bail
- embezzlement
- Indian Penal Code
- political rivalry
- pre‑trial detention
- chargesheet
- Mukhiya
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.89120 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-229 Year-2022 Thana- MADHUBAN District- East Champaran
======================================================
Ranjeet Prasad Gupta S/o Late Ramchandra Sah R/o Village- Khairwa, P.S.-
Madhuban, District- East Champaran
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Aditya Nath Jha, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Pranav Kumar, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PARTHA SARTHY
ORAL ORDER
3 01-04-2026 1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned
APP for the State and learned counsel for the informant.
2. The petitioner has preferred this application for
grant of regular bail in connection with Madhuban P.S. Case
no.229 of 2022 registered under sections 420, 406, 409, 467,
468, 471, 120B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
3. As per the prosecution case, the informant who
happens to be the husband of the Ward Member has made
allegations of embezzlement of public money by the petitioner,
the Mukhiya under different contracts.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
from perusal of the complaint itself, which was subsequently
registered as an FIR, it would be evident that the cause of false
implication is the political rivalry, the case having been initiated
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.89120 of 2025(3) dt.01-04-2026
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by filing of the complaint by the husband of the Ward Member.
The allegation of embezzlement of funds are all false and
incorrect. In fact, no funds from the project nos.5, 13 and 14
have been withdrawn. It is submitted that taking into
consideration the nature of the allegations levelled, the
petitioner having remained in custody since 22.8.2025,
chargesheet has been submitted in the case and the evidence is
already in possession of the Investigating Authorities. The
petitioner undertakes to cooperate in the investigation/trial.
5. The application for bail is opposed by learned A.P.P.
for the State and learned counsel for the informant. Learned
counsel for the informant submits that from reading of the order
of the learned Court below rejecting the bail of the petitioner as
also the material that has transpired in course of investigation, it
would clearly be evident that the petitioner who is a Mukhiya
has embezzled the funds and it is not a case for grant of bail.
6. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and
taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the
case, the petitioner having remained in custody for over 7
months since 22.8.2025 and chargesheet having been submitted
in the case, the Court directs the petitioner to be enlarged on bail
in connection with Madhuban P.S. Case no.229 of 2022 on
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.89120 of 2025(3) dt.01-04-2026
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furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/ (Rupees Ten Thousand) with
two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the
learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Motihari, East Champaran.
(Partha Sarthy, J)
Saurabh/-
U T
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