Vasanti Devi @ Basanti Devi v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.18454 of 2022 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-595 Year-2020 Thana- LAKHISARAI District- Lakhisarai ====================================================== VASANTI DEVI @ BASANTI DEVI Wife of Pairu Manjhi Resident of Village - Dogai, P.S. - Amahra, District - Lakhisarai. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

THE STATE OF BIHAR ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Mayank Bilochan, Advocate Mr. Mrigendra Kumar, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr. Parmanand Kumar, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PARTHA SARTHY ORAL ORDER 06-01-2023 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned A.P.P. for the State through video conferencing. The petitioner has prayed for grant of regular bail in a case registered under section 409 of the Indian Penal Code. As per the prosecution case, in spite of disbursement of the sum of Rs. 16,72,250/- and Rs. 9,00,000/- under two different schemes to the petitioner who happened to be the ward membercum-Chairman of the Ward Implementation and Management Committee of ward no. 5, it is stated that the work was not done and the amount defalcated.

It is submitted by learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner who happens to be a lady has been falsely implicated in the case. It is not she alone who is responsible for the total work to be done. The Ward Implementation and Managing Committee

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.18454 of 2022(5) dt.06-01-2023 2/2 consists not only of the Chairman but also of the Secretary and the bank accounts are in the joint names. The amounts can be withdrawn only on the joint signature of both. It is in fact the Mukhiya who is to carry out the development work and the same is monitored by the Panchayati Raj Officer and the Block Development Officer. The petitioner is in custody since 24.1.2022 and charge-sheet has been submitted in the case. She has no criminal antecedent.

Heard learned A.P.P. for the State.

Having heard learned counsel for the parties and taking into consideration the nature of allegation, the petitioner having remained in custody for more than 11 months since 24.1.2022 and charge-sheet having been submitted in the case, the petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in connection with Lakhisarai (Amahra) P.S. Case no. 595 of 2020 on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the Court of learned Additional District and Sessions Judge-III, Lakhisarai.

(Partha Sarthy, J) shiv/- U T