Sahdev Manjhi @ Sahadev Manjhi v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.11947 of 2026 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-3 Year-2016 Thana- FOREST (GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL) District- Gaya ====================================================== Sahdev Manjhi @ Sahadev Manjhi Son of Late Chotri Manjhi Resident of Village Ragaini, Police Station - Gurpa, District - Gaya. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Sheikh Arkan Ahmad, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr.Zainul Abedin, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PURNENDU SINGH ORAL ORDER 12-03-2026 Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and the learned APP for the State.

2. Petitioner seeks pre-arrest bail in connection with Forest P.S.Case No.3 of 2016, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 33, 41 and 42 of Indian forest Act.

3. As per the allegation made in the FIR, the petitioner was found transporting 'Bel' from the area notified for forest to sell them in the market.

4. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submitted that the offence has been alleged under Sections 33, 41 and 42 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and the same is compoundable and seeks that the petitioner be released on bail.

5. Learned APP for the State vehemently opposed the prayer for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner having found that he has illegally stored the 'Bel' fruit to sell them in the

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.11947 of 2026(2) dt.12-03-2026 2/2 market. Bel fruit has been notified, vide Notification No.CPF10148/52-23R dated 02.01.1953 to be prohibited.

6. Having considered the rival submissions made on behalf of the parties, as well as, considering the fact that the offences being compoundable, the petitioner is directed to be released on pre-arrest bail, in the event of his arrest or surrender before the learned district court within a period of four weeks from today, on furnishing a bank guarantee equal to the value of the seized forest produce, along with a bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned J.M. F.C., Gayaji/concerned court, in connection with Forest P.S.Case No.3 of 2016, subject to conditions as laid down under Section 482(2) of BNSS of 2023

7. The learned district court is directed to verify the criminal antecedent of the petitioner and if it is found that the petitioner is involved in some other cases as what has been stated in paragraph No.3 of the bail application, this order will automatically lose its force.

(Purnendu Singh, J) chn/- U T