Patna High Court
Sanjeet ChaudharyversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- RAMESH CHAND MALVIYA
Holding
The court granted regular bail to the petitioner, directing him to furnish a bail bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties.
Summary
Sanjeet Chaudhary was arrested in connection with a dacoity and robbery of ICICI Bank, alleged under IPC sections 395 and 397. He had been in custody since January 2024 and his earlier bail application was rejected. The petitioner claimed innocence, stating his name was added to the FIR only on the basis of a co‑accused’s confession and that no trial witnesses had been examined. The trial court had framed charges but the case showed no progress, while a similarly situated co‑accused had been granted bail. Considering the delay, lack of trial activity, and the precedent of bail to the co‑accused, the High Court ordered the petitioner’s release on regular bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties.
Issues considered
- Whether the petitioner is entitled to regular bail despite the serious nature of the offences (dacoity and robbery) and prolonged pre‑trial detention.
Legislation cited
- Indian Penal Code — s. 395, 397
Subjects
- bail
- dacoity
- robbery
- IPC
- Criminal Procedure Code
- trial delay
- surety
- high court
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.89147 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-135 Year-2023 Thana- CHAKIA District- East Champaran
======================================================
Sanjeet Chaudhary, aged about-25 years, S/o Prabhu Chaudhary @ Prbhu
Chaudhri Resident of village - Hindu Chakia, P.S.- Chakia, District - East
Champaran
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar
2. The Branch Manager, ICICI Bank Chakiya, P.S - Chakiya, District - East
Champaran Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Sunil Kumar Pathak, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Ms. Suman Kumari Singh, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAMESH CHAND
MALVIYA
ORAL ORDER
4 06-02-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned APP
for the State and learned counsel for the Informant.
2. Earlier, the prayer for regular bail of this petitioner
was rejected by this Court vide order dated 21.02.2025 passed in
Cr. Misc. No. 12600 of 2025 with a direction to the learned Trial
Court to conclude the proceeding and frame the charge of this
petitioner as early as possible.
3. Petitioner is in custody in a case registered for the
offence punishable under Section 395 and 397 of the IPC.
4. As per allegation in the FIR, some miscreants have
committed dacoity in the ICICI Bank and have also looted
Rs.48,03,760/- from the bank and it is also alleged that they
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.89147 of 2025(4) dt.06-02-2026
2/3
have snatched cash of one of the customer and also a gold chain.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner is innocent and has falsely been implicated in this
case. He next submits that earlier the petitioner was not named
in the FIR but his name has been transpired in the present case
only on the basis of confessional statement of one co-accused
person, namely, Ranjit Kumar @ Ranjit Kushwaha @Ranjit
Triwedi after which petitioner also faced his guilt. He next
submits that charges have been framed but no TIP has been
conducted by the Police till date. He next submits that similarly
situated co-accused person, namely, Nitish @ Nitish Mishra has
been granted bail by this Court vide order dataed 20.01.2024
passed in Cr. Misc. No.27512 of 2024. He next submits that
petitioner is in custody since 16.01.2024 and has got 16 criminal
antecedent as stated in para-3 of the bail petition.
6. Learned APP for the State as well as learned
counsel for the Informant have vehemently opposes the prayer
for bail of the petitioner.
7. On perusal of the FIR, impugned order dated
04.09.2025 and report regarding stage of trial, vide letter no.22
dated 15.01.2026, it appears that learned District & Additional
Sessions Judge-10, East Champaran, Motihari has stated that
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.89147 of 2025(4) dt.06-02-2026
3/3
‘charge has already been framed against the accused persons on
20.05.2024 and no any witnesses has been examined as yet and
this case is likely to be concluded within one year’. So,
considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case
and submission of learned counsel for the petitioner and also the
fact that there is no progress in the trial and the petitioner is
under custody since 16.01.2024 and similarly situated co-
accused person, namely, Nitish @ Nitish Mishra has been
granted bail by this Court vide order dated 20.04.2024 passed in
Cr. Misc. No.27512 of 2024. Let the above-named petitioner be
released on bail, on his furnishing bail bonds of Rs.10,000/-(Ten
thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the
satisfaction of learned District & Additional Sessions Judge 10th,
East Champaran, Motithari in connection with Sessions Trial
No.425 of 2024 arising out of Chakiya P.S. Case No.135of
2023.
(Ramesh Chand Malviya, J)
Harshita/-
U T
Checking your session…