Krishnadeo Pandit v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.24489 of 2021 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-307 Year-2020 Thana- LAXMIPUR District- Jamui ====================================================== 1.

Krishnadeo Pandit Son Of Late Chhotan Pandit Resident Of Village- Kala, P.S. Laxmipur, District-Jamui 2.

Rohit Pandit Son Of Krishnadeo Pandit Resident Of Village Kala, P.S. Laxmipur, District-Jamui ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Umesh Prasad For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr. Ashok Kumar, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR SINGH ORAL ORDER 05-01-2022 Due to the third wave of COVID-19 Pandemic, the matter is being taken up by way of Virtual Court proceeding. The matter has been listed under the heading 'For Orders' under the orders of Hon'ble the Chief Justice. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned APP for the State through virtual mode.

Learned counsel for the petitioners is directed to remove the defects, as pointed out by the Office, within a period of four weeks after restoration of normalcy.

The petitioners are apprehending their arrest in a case registered under Sections 147, 148, 149, 307, 353, 447 of the Indian Penal Code, 27 of Arms Act, 314 of Prevention of

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.24489 of 2021(2) dt.05-01-2022 2/3 Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, 6(2) of Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956, 33 of Indian Forest Act, 1927 and 15 of Environment Protection Act.

The prosecution allegation, in short, is that the accused persons were illegally involved in cultivating forest land. It has been submitted on behalf of the petitioners that the petitioners have got no criminal antecedent. There is no allegation of tampering of witnesses alleged against the petitioners. The petitioners have falsely been implicated in the present case. General and omnibus allegation has been made against the petitioners. No specific overt act is alleged against the petitioners. As per the allegation, forest land is said to have been cultivated by the local residents. The name of petitioners has transpired on the disclosure made by co-accused. Except for this, there is no other substantive evidence to suggest their implication in the present case.

On behalf of the State, it is submitted that the petitioners are named in the F.I.R.

It is necessary to indicate here that this Court while considering the prayer made in the present anticipatory bail application has taken note of the exponential rise in number of covid cases due to outbreak of third wave of Covid-19

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.24489 of 2021(2) dt.05-01-2022 3/3 pandemic. Further this Court can also not lose sight of the fact that the condition of jails is not conducive and suitable to the present situation which has arisen due to the sudden rise in covid cases.

Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the petitioners, above named, in the event of arrest/surrender before the learned court below within a period of twelve weeks from today, be released on anticipatory bail on their personal bonds to the satisfaction of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jamui in connection with Laxmipur P.S. Case No. 307 of 2020, subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 438(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Once the normalcy is restored, the petitioners shall furnish bail bonds of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees ten thousand) each with two sureties of the like amount each within a period of eight weeks to the satisfaction of the Court concerned in connection with the aforesaid case.

(Sudhir Singh, J) Pankaj/- U T