Santosh Mandal @ Santosh @ Santosh Kumar Mandal v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.4913 of 2026 Arising out of PS. Case No.-18 Year-2024 Thana- KUWARI District- Araria ====================================================== Santosh Mandal @ Santosh @ Santosh Kumar Mandal S/o Buchchan Mandal Resident of Village- Dabhara Khadi Tola Ward No 09, Police StationTarabari, District- Araria ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

The State of Bihar ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Mukesh Kumar Rana, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr. Vinod Shanker Modi, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANSUL ORAL ORDER 07-05-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State.

2. The petitioner seeks bail in Kuwari P.S. Case No. 18 of 2024 instituted for the offences punishable under Section 8, 20(b)(ii)(c), 22(c) and 25 of NDPS Act.

3. The allegation is that 78 Kgs. of ganja was recovered from the house of Vinod Tatma and on information of the petitioner 41.20 Kgs was recovered from the maize field.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that he is a labour who was working in the field and his village is at different place and he informed the police but police converted it into confession. The trial court report was called. The same shows that charge has already been framed and summon, B.W. and NBW has also been issued to witnesses.

5. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor has

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.4913 of 2026(7) dt.07-05-2026 2/2 vehemently opposed the prayer for bail of the petitioner.

6. Considering the fact that the petitioner is in custody since 15.05.2024 and has no criminal antecedent and the prosecution has not come up with its witnesses, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioner.

7. Let the petitioner, above named, be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- (Ten thousand) with two sureties of like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge, NDPS Act, Araria or his successor in connection with Kuwari P.S. Case No. 18 of 2024 subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 438(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure/Section 482(2) of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

8. It is made clear that any observation made herein is prima facie in nature and limited solely for the purpose of adjudication of the present bail application. Such observations shall not be construed as an expression on the merits of the case and shall not influence the trial or any other proceedings in any manner.

(Ansul, J) Vikash/- U T