Soni Devi @ Sona Devi v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.14561 of 2026 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-780 Year-2025 Thana- HARSIDHI District- East Champaran ====================================================== Soni Devi @ Sona Devi W/o Arvind Kumar R/o Village - Math Lohiyar, Makhari Tola, Ward No. 14, P.S - Harsidhi, District - East Champaran ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Abhishek Ranjan, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr.Sunil Kumar Pandey, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK KUMAR PANDEY ORAL ORDER 15-04-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned APP for the State.

2. The petitioner has prayed for grant of regular bail in a case registered for the offences punishable under Section 103(1) read with Sections 3/5 of the BNS.

3. The case of the prosecution is that the body of the informant's son was found hanging. The informant has suspected that the petitioner along with others has killed the son of the informant.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that from perusal of the F.I.R., it is evident that the case is based purely on suspicion and the informant is not an eyewitness. It is further submitted that,

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.14561 of 2026(3) dt.15-04-2026 2/3 during the course of investigation, it has transpired that the deceased was having an illicit relationship with the petitioner. It has also been submitted that the forensic team visited the place of occurrence and opined that it appeared to be a case of suicide by hanging.

5. However, it is contended that medical opinion is crucial in such matters, and from perusal of the post-mortem report, it appears that the doctor conducting the autopsy has opined that the cause of death is asphyxia due to strangulation. The following ante-mortem injuries were found on the person of the deceased: (i) Abrasion measuring 1⁄2" × 1⁄2" over the dorsum aspect of the left wrist; (ii) One U-shaped ligature mark, blackbrown in colour, encircling almost the entire neck at the midlevel, measuring 9" × 11⁄2". Learned counsel further submits that the petitioner is a lady and nothing has come on record during investigation to show her direct involvement in the alleged occurrence. It is also submitted that, after investigation, the supervising authority has opined that the case falls under Section 108 of the BNS, and the charge-sheet has also been submitted under the said section. Moreover, the petitioner is languishing in judicial custody since 2611.2025 having no criminal antecedent.

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.14561 of 2026(3) dt.15-04-2026 3/3

6. Learned APP for the State has opposed the prayer for bail.

7. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail. Accordingly, the petitioner is directed to be released on bail in connection with Harsidhi P.S. Case No. 780 of 2025 on furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 10,000/- (ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned JMFC, East Champaran, Motihari.

(Ashok Kumar Pandey, J) Jagdish/- U T