Umrawati Devi v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.6157 of 2026 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-288 Year-2025 Thana- BAIKUNTHPUR District- Gopalganj ====================================================== Umrawati Devi Wife of Surendra Sing Resident of Village- Katalpur (Fakalpura), P.S.- Baikunthpur, District- Gopalganj ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner :

Mr. Anand Vardhan, Advocate Ms. Shubhangi Pandey, Advocate For the State :

Mr. Sanjay Kumar Tiwary, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PRABHAT KUMAR SINGH ORAL ORDER 04-02-2026 Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and learned APP appearing on behalf of the State.

2. The petitioner apprehends her arrest in a case registered for the offence punishable under Sections 126(2), 127(1), 115(1), 118(1), 124(1), 85, 109(1), 351(3), 352 and 3(5) of the B.N.S. and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

3. As per prosecution case, marriage of sister of informant was solemnized with co-accused Ranjan Singh in the year 2020 as per Hindu rites and rituals. It is alleged after marriage, all the F.I.R. named accused persons, including this petitioner, started demanding dowry and due to non-fulfillment of demand of dowry, all the accused persons set the sister of

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.6157 of 2026(2) dt.04-02-2026 2/2 informant on fire by pouring kerosene oil.

4. It is submitted by learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner that petitioner is quite innocent and has committed no offence. Petitioner has falsely been implicated in this case merely because she happens to be mother-in-law of the victim. The present F.I.R. has been lodged after inordinate delay of 7 days and there is no plausible explanation for the same. Petitioner is a lady and claims clean antecedents.

5. On the other hand, learned A.P.P. for the State has vehemently opposed the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner and submitted that petitioner is named in the F.I.R. with specific accusation that she, along with other F.I.R. named accused persons, set the victim on fire due to non-fulfillment of demand of dowry as a result of which, the victim suffered 18% to 23% burn injuries.

6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, specific and direct nature of accusation and gravity of offence, the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner is rejected.

(Prabhat Kumar Singh, J) shashank/- U T