Soni Devi v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.25298 of 2026 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-212 Year-2023 Thana- FALKA District- Katihar ====================================================== Soni Devi, Wife of Late Neeraj Mahto, Resident of village- Dadhi Aaas Bhadaas PS- Khagariya Muffasil District-Khagaria ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s :

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

Mr.Anuj Kumar Shrivastava, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR JHA ORAL ORDER 20-07-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned A.P.P. for the State.

2. In the present case, the petitioner seeks bail in connection with Sessions Trial No. 87/2024, arising out of Falka (Pothia) P.S. Case No. 212/2023, registered for the offence under Sections 302, 201, 120B & 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

3. As per prosecution case, a dead body of unknown person was recovered on an agricultural land and later on, the dead body was identified as that of the husband of the petitioner. Subsequently, the petitioner was found involved in the murder of her husband along with other co-accused persons during investigation.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. There is no involvement of the petitioner in the present

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.25298 of 2026(4) dt.20-07-2026 2/3 case. The petitioner has been made accused on the basis of confession statement and except for the confessional statement, there is no other material against the petitioner. The learned counsel further submits that a number of co-accused persons have been granted bail by the learned Coordinate Benches of this Court vide orders dated 21.03.2024, 14.05.2024, 20.06.2024, 17.12.2024, 19.03.2025, 19.03.2025 & 08.04.2025 passed in Cr. Misc.Nos. 83348/2023, 5257/2024, 33500/2024, 43047/2024, 73202/2024, 4888/2025, 9629/2025 & 19005/2025, respectively. The petitioner is a lady and she is in custody since 16.06.2023 and is having clean antecedent. The charge sheet has been submitted.

5. Learned A.P.P. appearing for the State opposes the submission made on behalf of the petitioner. The learned APP submits that the petitioner conspired with other co-accused persons and got her husband murdered.

6. Having regard to the fact and circumstances and submission made on behalf of the parties and considering the distinct lack of substantive material against the petitioner showing her involvement in the murder of her husband and further considering the period of custody of the petitioner, who is a lady and her clean antecedent as well as submission of

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.25298 of 2026(4) dt.20-07-2026 3/3 charge sheet against her, the petitioner is directed to be released on bail, on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand Only) each with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Additional Sessions Judge-V, Katihar/court concerned, in connection with Sessions Trial No. 87/2024, arising out of Falka (Pothia) P.S. Case No. 212/2023, subject to the condition laid down under Section 480(3) of the BNSS and other following conditions:

(i) One of the bailors will be a close relative of the petitioner.

(ii) The petitioner will remain present on each and every date fixed by the court below, if so required by the learned trial court.

(iii) In case of absence on three consecutive dates or in violation of the terms of the bail, the bail bond of the petitioner will be liable to be cancelled by the court concerned.

(Arun Kumar Jha, J) V.K.Pandey/- U T