Madan Manjhi v. The State Of Bihar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.24978 of 2026 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-66 Year-2024 Thana- MAHKAR District- Gaya ====================================================== Madan Manjhi S/o Late Nanhak Manjhi @ Nanhaku Manjhi R/o VillageAdampur, P.S- Mahkar, Dist- Gaya Jee. ... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr.Aryan Singh, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s :
Mr.Shyameshwar Dayal, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK KUMAR PANDEY ORAL ORDER 01-05-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned APP for the State.
2. The petitioner has renewed his prayer for grant of regular bail in connection with Mahkar P.S. Case No. 66 of 2024 registered for the offence punishable under Sections 147, 148, 149, 448, 341, 342, 323, 307, 302, 504, 506 and 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Witch (Daain) Practices Act which was earlier two times rejected by this Court vide order dated 18.01.2025 passed in Cr. Misc. No. 61437 of 2024 and vide order dated 01.08.2025 passed in Cr. Misc. No. 51925 of 2025 with a liberty to renew his prayer for bail after six months if the trial is not concluded.
3. The case of the prosecution, in short, is that on the date of occurrence at about 6 pm, on the allegation of witchcraft
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.24978 of 2026(2) dt.01-05-2026 2/3 the petitioner along with other accused persons being armed with tangi, pasuli, khanti, iron rod, clubs and sticks, arrived at the door of the informant. After that, they entered in the house of the informant and started assaulting the informant with a view to kill him. The father of the informant namely, Jagdish Manjhi received grievous injuries on his person. After this, Jagdish Manjhi was closed in Anganwari Kendra by accused persons and the doors were locked. Thereafter, the co-villagers unlocked the doors of Anganwari and took him to Primary Health Centre for better treatment and after that he was referred to ANMCH, where he died on the way.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the nature of allegation is general and omnibus. There is no allegation of any specific overt act against this petitioner. It has further been submitted that in this case, altogether 12 named persons have been made accused. Petitioner is having no criminal antecedent and he is languishing in judicial custody since 01.04.2024.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner has further submitted that from perusal of the order of learned trial Court it will transpire that till today only two witnesses have been examined from the side of the prosecution.
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.24978 of 2026(2) dt.01-05-2026 3/3
6. The application for bail is vehemently opposed by learned APP for the State.
7. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and considering the above facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail. The above named petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- (Rs. ten thousand only) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned District and Additional Sessions Judge-XIX, Gaya Ji in connection with Mahkar P.S. Case No. 66 of 2024. (Ashok Kumar Pandey, J) lata/- U T