Satish Kumar Jha @ Satish Jha v. The Central Bureau Of Investigation, Patna.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.27506 of 2025 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-15 Year-2018 Thana- C.B.I CASE District- Patna ====================================================== Satish Kumar Jha @ Satish Jha S/O Late Kameshwar Jha R/O A-101, Permanent Resident- Village and Post- Chainpur, Thana- Bangaon, Distt.- Saharsa, Pincode- 852202, Also Resides At Anugvihar Apartment, Rani Talab, Sabour Road, P.O- Fatehpur, P.S- Zero Mile, Bhagalpur, Distt.- Bhagalpur, Bihar, Pin Code- 813210.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1.
The Central Bureau of Investigation, Patna. Bihar 2.
The State of Bihar ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr.Madhukar Mohan, Adv.
For the Opposite Party/s :
Mr.Ram Tujabh Sinhg, CGC ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. SONI SHRIVASTAVA ORAL ORDER 11-07-2025 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the C.B.I.
2. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with C.B.I., Special Case No. 01 of 2020 bearing R.C. Case No. 15/S/2018 registered for the offenses punishable under Sections 420, 120B, 409, 467, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(c) & (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
3. The present F.I.R relates to illegal transfer and misuse of funds from the Government Bank accounts in Bhagalpur, Bihar in a fraudulent manner. The present case is one of the Srijan Scam case, registered by the Bihar Police. As per
2/4 notification issued by the Government of Bihar and subsequent notification of Government of India, this case registered as Srijan Kotwali P.S. Case No. 658 of 2017 dated 20.09.2017, was taken up for investigation by C.B.I. The case was registered on the basis of a written complaint dated 20.09.2017 of Shri. Sunil Kumar, the then Block Development Officer, Pirpainti Block, Bhagalpur.
4. The complaint precisely alleged that when Bank accounts of the Block Development Officer, Pirpainti was scrutinized and tallied, irregularities amounting to Rs. 9,52,66,926/- was found.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was not initially named in the F.I.R and his name has subsequently transpired during the course of investigation in the charge-sheet dated 30.12.2019 which has been annexed as Annexure-P/2 to the present application. Learned counsel draws the attention of the Court to Item-16 (vi) which is related with the allegation against the present petitioner that he had dishonestly filled in deposit slips/pay-in-slips in respect of cheque no. 642290 dated 22.05.2009 and cheque no. 056025 dated 18.09.2009 and joint deposit slip for cheque no. 564858 and 564875. It has further been pointed out that the maker and
3/4 checker of these deposit slips/pay-in-slips are co-accused Shri Hare Krishna Adak, Shri Surajit Raha, Shri Navin Kumar Saha and Shri Sant Kumar Sinha. The allegations against them features in the charge-sheet in column 16(x) and (xii). Further, column 16(xvi) also indicates that the deposit slip filled by the petitioner was signed by Smt. Sarita Jha on behalf of Srijan. It has next been submitted that all these co-accused persons against whom there are allegations with regard to the same deposit slip/pay-in-slip of being the maker, checker and signatory have been granted the bail vide orders dated 11.01.2023 passed in Cr. Misc. No. 39062 of 2022, dated 16.12.2021 passed in Cr. Misc. No. 40589 of 2021, dated 17.01.2022 passed in Cr. Misc. No. 40468 of 2021, dated 12.07.2021 passed in Cr. Misc. No. 4974 of 2021. The chargesheet has been submitted in the case and the petitioner undertakes to co-operate in the trial. The petitioner, who is about 70 years of age, is languishing in custody since 21.02.2025.
6. Learned counsel appearing for C.B.I, however opposes the prayer for bail on the ground that the allegations against the petitioner are serious in nature. It has also been submitted that the petitioner has a number of criminal antecedents.
4/4
7. In view of all the above mentioned facts and circumstances of the case, this Court deems it proper to take into account the fact that accused persons with similar nature of allegations in the different cases of Srijjan Scam have already been granted privilege of bail, let the above named petitioner, be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned court below where the case is pending/successor court in connection with C.B.I., Special Case No. 01 of 2020 bearing R.C. Case No. 15/S/2018, subject to the conditions:
(i) The petitioner shall co-operate in the trial and shall be properly represented on each and every date fixed by the trial Court.
(ii) If the petitioner is found tampering with the evidence or witness in the case, the prosecution will be at liberty to move for cancellation of bail.
(Soni Shrivastava, J) devendra/- U T