Patna High Court
Pranav KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- CHANDRA SHEKHAR JHA
Holding
Bail was granted as there was no prima facie case against the petitioner.
Summary
The petitioner, Pranav Kumar, applied for bail in a case registered under Sections 394 and 307 of the IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act, alleging robbery and attempted murder at a petrol pump. He was not named in the FIR; his alleged involvement stems solely from a confessional statement of co‑accused Sonu Kumar, with no other incriminating material recovered. The petitioner had been in custody since 26‑09‑2025 and argued that a similarly situated co‑accused had previously been granted bail, invoking judicial parity. The State could not refute the factual submissions, and the court found no prima facie case against the petitioner. Consequently, the court ordered his release on bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs 10,000 with two sureties, subject to conditions under Section 480(3) of the B.N.S.S.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted when the only basis of accusation is a confessional statement of a co‑accused and the petitioner is not named in the FIR
- Whether the principle of judicial parity warrants granting bail to the petitioner
Legislation cited
- Arms Act — s. 27
- B.N.S.S. — s. 480(3)
- Indian Penal Code — s. 307, 394
Subjects
- bail
- confessional statement
- robbery
- attempt to murder
- Arms Act
- prima facie
- judicial parity
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.8969 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-160 Year-2022 Thana- HAJIPUR SADAR District- Vaishali
======================================================
Pranav Kumar S/o Subodh Kumar @ Subodh Kumar Chaudhary R/o Village -
Adalwari, Hathsaarganj, Hajipur, P.S - Town Hajipur, District - Vaishali
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Abhishek Kumar
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Upendra Kumar
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE CHANDRA SHEKHAR JHA
ORAL ORDER
2 13-02-2026 Heard the parties.
2. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with Hajipur
Sadar P.S. Case No. 160 of 2022 registered for the offences under
Sections 394/307 of the IPC & Section 27 of the Arms Act.
3. The petitioner is not named in the F.I.R. and is in
custody since 26.09.2025.
4. As per FIR, some unknown miscreants committed
robbery in petrol pump of the informant and looted cash during the
occurrence. It is further alleged that miscreants open fired which
hit to the leg of manager of the petrol pump.
5. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner
submitted that name of petitioner transpires on the basis of
confessional statement of one Sonu Kumar, in furtherance of
which nothing incriminating recovered/surfaced during the course
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.8969 of 2026(2) dt.13-02-2026
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of investigation, as to connect this petitioner prima-facie with the
present occurrence of robbery. It is submitted that petitioner was
not put on TIP, as yet. It is further submitted that similarly
situated co-accused person has already granted bail by one of the
learned Co-ordinate Bench of this Court through Cr. Misc. No.
14709 of 2023 dated 15.05.2023 and, therefore, as a matter of
judicial parity this petitioner also deserves bail. While concluding
the argument it is submitted that, petitioner found involved in four
more cases, where he is on bail and almost in all cases his name
transpired on the basis of confessional statement as of the present
case, otherwise having no evidentiary value under law, and
moreover, investigation of this case has already completed, and as
such, there is no chance of tampering with the evidence.
6. Learned APP, while opposing the prayer for bail could
not disputed aforesaid factual submission.
7. In view of aforesaid factual submission and by taking
note of fact as save and except suspicion arising out of
confessional statement of co-accused as mentioned aforesaid, as
prima-facie nothing transpires against this petitioner as to connect
him with the present crime in question, coupled with the fact as
petitioner remains in custody since 26.09.2025, accordingly above
named petitioner, is directed to be released on bail in connection
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.8969 of 2026(2) dt.13-02-2026
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with Hajipur Sadar P.S. Case No. 160 of 2022 on furnishing bail
bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of
the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned CJM, Vaishali at
Hajipur/concerned court, subject to the conditions as mentioned
under Section 480(3) of the B.N.S.S.
(Chandra Shekhar Jha, J.)
S.Tripathi/-
U T
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