Patna High Court
Geeta KumariversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- ALOK KUMAR SINHA
Holding
The Court granted anticipatory bail to the petitioner, subject to conditions under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Summary
Geeta Kumari, the sister‑in‑law of a woman who was allegedly murdered in a dowry dispute, was named as an accused in FIR No. 84 of 2025 under Sections 85, 103(1), 238 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The FIR was lodged 17 years after the alleged crime and the informant later filed a petition retracting his statement. The petitioner contended that she had no specific allegation against her, no criminal antecedent, and was merely a named co‑accused in a general allegation. The State opposed the grant of anticipatory bail. Considering the lack of specific charge, the retraction of the informant’s statement, and the petitioner’s clean record, the Court inclined to grant anticipatory bail subject to conditions under Section 482(2) of the same Act.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to Geeta Kumari in view of the general allegations and the retraction of the informant’s statement.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita — s. 103(1), 238, 3(5), 482(2), 85
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- dowry death
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- retraction of statement
- sister‑in‑law
- bail conditions
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.91833 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-84 Year-2025 Thana- Rampur Chauram District- Arwal
======================================================
Geeta Kumari Wife of Manish Kumar D/o Kaushlendra Singh, Resident of
Village - Nonia Bigha, P.S.- Arwal, District - Arwal (Wrongly written in FIR
village - Sarauti, P.S.- Rampur Chauram, District - Arwal).
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Ravindra Kumar, Adv
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Vinod Shanker Modi, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ALOK KUMAR SINHA
ORAL ORDER
2 15-01-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned
A.P.P. for the State.
2. The petitioner apprehends her arrest in connection
with Rampur Chauram P.S. Case No. 84 of 2025, registered for
the offence punishable under Sections 85/103(1)/238/3(5) of the
B.N.S., 2023.
3. The case of the prosecution, in short, as per the
informant is that he submitted a written application to Rampur
Chauram police station stating that he had married his daughter
to Mukesh Kumar in 2008 according to Hindu customs. He gave
money and gifts as dowry according to his means. His
daughter's husband and in-laws were demanding ten lakh rupees
from her and were pressuring her to give them the money. Upon
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.91833 of 2025(2) dt.15-01-2026
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receiving information from his daughter, they went and tried to
reason with them, but they did not listen. Finally, his daughter
was murdered by her husband Mukesh Kumar and her in-laws,
including her father-in-law Kaushlendra Singh, mother-in-law
Meena Devi, brother-in-law Sudhir Kumar, and sister-in-law
Geeta Kumari, all acting together. When they went to inquire
after receiving the information, people told them that his
daughter had been taken to the hospital. After a considerable
time, they received no further information. All of them
conspired together and murdered his daughter.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
petitioner is innocent and has committed no offence. The
petitioner is married sister-in-law (nanad) of the deceased and
has nothing to do with the allegations levelled against her. He
further submits that the petitioner has no no criminal antecedent.
5. Learned A.P.P. for the State opposes the prayer of
anticipatory bail.
6. The deceased daughter of the informant, namely,
Sarita Kumari was married to Mukesh Kumar since 2008 and
the FIR has been lodged after nearly 17 years on 02.09.2025
alleging demand of dowry in which the petitioner who happens
to be married sister-in-law has also been named as accused
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.91833 of 2025(2) dt.15-01-2026
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person. Against the petitioner Geeta Kumari, there is no specific
allegation and in fact, there is general and omnibus allegation
against all accused persons including the petitioner. The
petitioner has no criminal antecedent. The informant is also said
to have retracted his statement by filing a petition dated
26.11.2025 before the learned CJM, Arwal. Considering the
aforesaid facts and circumstances of the present case, this Court
is inclined to grant privilege of anticipatory bail to the
petitioner.
7. Let the petitioner, named above, in the event of her
arrest or surrender before the Court below within four weeks
from today, be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of
Rs.10,000/- (Ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount
each to the satisfaction of the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate,
Arwal in connection with Rampur Chauram P.S. Case No. 84 of
2025, subject to the conditions laid down under section 482(2)
of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
(Alok Kumar Sinha, J)
kiran/-
U T
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