Manju Devi @ Shanti Devi v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.22338 of 2026 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-151 Year-2021 Thana- HATHAURI District- Muzaffarpur ====================================================== Manju Devi @ Shanti Devi W/O Lalbabu Sahni R/O Village - Dakrama, P. S - Hathauri, District - Muzaffarpur ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Devendra Kumar, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr. Mohammed Arif, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR VERMA ORAL ORDER 06-04-2026 Heard Mr. Devendra Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Mohammed Arif, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State.

2. Petitioner seeks bail who is in custody since 26.12.2025 in connection with Hathauri P.S. Case No. 151 of 2021, F.I.R. dated 05.07.2021 for the offences punishable under Sections 304(B)/34 of the IPC.

3. According to prosecution case, this petitioner along with other accused persons have killed the informant's daughter due to non-fulfillment of demand of dowry.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner has clean antecedent and she has falsely been implicated in the present case. The allegation as alleged in the FIR is false and fabricated and the petitioner has not committed

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.22338 of 2026(2) dt.06-04-2026 2/3 any offence as alleged in the FIR. There is no allegation of assault, overt act or demand of dowry against the petitioner. He further submits that the petitioner is step mother-in-law of the deceased and she is living separately from the deceased and she has no concern at all from the deceased or her family affairs. He further submits that the police after investigation submitted the charge sheet against the petitioner. He further submits that similarly situated, co-accused, namely, Lal Babu Sahani who is husband of the petitioner has been granted bail by a co-ordinate Bench of this Court vide order dated 19.07.2023 passed in Cr. Misc. No. 38596 of 2023. The petitioner is in custody since 26.12.2025.

5. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor has vehemently opposed the prayer for bail of the petitioner.

6. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances that the petitioner has clean antecedent, there is no allegation of assault or demand of dowry against her and similarly situated co-accused has been granted bail by a Co-ordinate Bench of this Court, let the petitioner, above named, be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- (Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Muzaffarpur (East), Court No.14 in

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.22338 of 2026(2) dt.06-04-2026 3/3 connection with Hathauri P.S. Case No. 151 of 2021, subject to the following conditions:- i. Petitioner shall co-operate in the trial and shall be properly represented on each and every date fixed by the court and shall remain physically present as directed by the court and on his absence on two consecutive dates without sufficient reason, his bail bond shall be cancelled by the Court below. ii. If the petitioner tampers with the evidence or the witnesses, in that case, the prosecution will be at liberty to move for cancellation of bail.

iii. And further condition that the court below shall verify the criminal antecedent of the petitioner and in case at any stage it is found that the petitioner has concealed his criminal antecedent, the court below shall take step for cancellation of bail bond of the petitioner. However, the acceptance of bail bonds in terms of the above-mentioned order shall not be delayed for purpose of or in the name of verification.

(Rajesh Kumar Verma, J) Vanisha/- U T