Basanti Devi @ Ruti Devi v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.8158 of 2026 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-584 Year-2023 Thana- MAKHDUMPUR District- Jehanabad ====================================================== 1.

Basanti Devi @ Ruti Devi Wife of Nagendra Manjhi R/o Village - Ikkil, P.S. - Makhdumpur, Dist. - Jehanabad.

2.

Rangu Manjhi Son of Late Rajendra Manjhi R/o Village - Ikkil, P.S. - Makhdumpur, Dist. - Jehanabad.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Shrish Anurag, Adv For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr. Ram Priya Sharan Singh, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ALOK KUMAR SINHA ORAL ORDER 19-03-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State.

2. The petitioners seek bail in connection with Makhdumpur P.S. Case No. 584 of 2023 registered for the offence punishable under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

3. The case of the prosecution is that 28.08.2023, the informant received information that his maternal grandfather, Ramswaroop Majhi had been murdered and his body buried underground near the Ikkil Yuddh River and bad smell is coming out. When the body buried was exhumed, it was identified as that of a male, his neck was broken, both wrists

2/4 were cut and both legs had been crushed from knee. One of the legs had become completely detached. From the cloth, it was identified that the dead body belong to maternal grandfather of the informant, who was missing from two or three days. As he practiced religious rituals and worship, villagers from the Majhi Tola locality had frequently accused him of engaging in sorcery (Bhut Gauna). A few days prior, when the grandson of Bihari Majhi also from Majhi Tola fell ill, it was alleged that it has been done by Ram Swarup Manjhi with the help of ghosts. The family members use to abuse his maternal grandfather and also used to threatened that he will be killed. He further alleged that the maternal grandfather of the informant has been killed by Bihari Manjhi, Rangu Manjhi, Nagendra Manjhi, Basanti Devi, Urmila Devi and Raj Balam Manjhi and other unknown persons. After killing him, they have cut the hand and leg of the deceased and have buried the dead body in Budh Nadi.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are innocent and have not committed any offence. They have falsely been implicated in this case. There is no eye witness of the alleged occurrence and only on the basis of suspicion, they have been implicated. He further submits that the petitioners have no criminal antecedent.

3/4

5. Learned APP appearing for the State opposes the prayer for regular bail of the petitioners.

6. Taking into consideration that the petitioner no. 1 has recently delivered a child and was granted provisional bail by order dated 17.02.2026, the provisional bail granted earlier is hereby confirmed. Further taking into account that a number of accused persons have already been enlarged on bail by order dated 09.10.2025 passed in Cr. Misc. No. 70178 of 2025 (Annexure-P/2) and the petitioner no. 2 has no criminal antecedent, this Court is inclined to grant privilege of bail to the petitioner no. 2.

7. Let the petitioner no. 2, named above, is directed to be released on bail on furnishing bail-bonds of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned court below where the case is pending/successor court in connection with Makhdumpur P.S. Case No. 584 of 2023, subject to the following conditions:- (i) One of the bailors of the petitioner shall be his close relative.

(ii) The petitioners shall remain physically present in Court on each date of the trial.

4/4 (iii) In case of absence on two consecutive dates without substantial reason or in violation of the terms of the bail, the bail bonds of the petitioner will be liable to be cancelled by the Court concerned.

8. Accordingly, the prayer for bail is allowed. (Alok Kumar Sinha, J) kiran/- U T