Soni Devi v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.19649 of 2020 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-148 Year-2017 Thana- NAWADA District- Nawada ====================================================== SONI DEVI W/o Sri Pappu Yadav Resident of Village - and P.O.-Pawra, P.S.- Nagar (Kadirganj), Distt.- Nawada.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

THE STATE OF BIHAR 2.

the Superintendant of Police, vigilance, Bihar, Patna. Bihar ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Abhay Kumar Singh For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr.

====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR SINGH ORAL ORDER 05-12-2020 Due to 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 petitioner and learned APP for the State.

The petitioner seeks bail in a case registered under Section 420, 409, 467, 468, 471, 120B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 7/13(a) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as well as Section 4 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Allegedly, irregularities and misappropriation was committed in various schemes during tenure of accused Soni Devi (petitioner), Mukhiya of village-Paure, P.O. Kadirganj,

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.19649 of 2020(3) dt.05-12-2020 2/3 District-Nawada. It is further alleged that the petitioner and one another amassed disproportionate assets which was not explained with regard to the income disclosed by them. Earlier prayer for bail of the petitioner was rejected by this court vide Annexure-1 to the present application taking into account that she was Mukhiya of the Panchayat, in question and there was misappropriation of public money to the tune of Rs. 3,00,00,000/- (three crores).

A report regarding the stage of the case was called for from the court below. It has been reported by the court below that charge has already been framed.

On behalf of the State, it is submitted that the petitioner is named in the Complaint Case/F.I.R and huge public money has been misappropriated.

Considering the nature of accusation and stage of the case, I am not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner. Accordingly, prayer for bail of the petitioner in connection with Nawada Nagar (Kadirganj) P.S. Case No. 148 of 2017 is rejected.

Learned trial court is directed to take all necessary steps to conclude the trial preferably within a period of one year from the date of receipt/production of copy of this order.

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.19649 of 2020(3) dt.05-12-2020 3/3 Since the case has been instituted by the Vigilance Department, the Superintendent of Police, Vigilance, Bihar, Patna is directed to take all necessary steps to produce the prosecution witnesses on the date fixed by the trial court so that the trial court be concluded within the stipulated period. Let a copy of this order be communicated to the Superintendent of Police, Vigilance, Bihar, Patna for needful. (Sudhir Singh, J) A.K.V.//- U T