Ratnesh Sah v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.44411 of 2025 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-248 Year-2025 Thana- CHAPRA TOWN District- Saran ====================================================== Ratnesh Sah S/o Late Bhawasagar Sah Resident of village- Bardahiya, Police Station- Marhowrah, District- Saran, Chapra ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s :

Ms.Mili Kumari, Adv.

For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr. Nityanand Tiwary, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RUDRA PRAKASH MISHRA ORAL ORDER 15-09-2025 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Nityanand Tiwary, learned APP for the State. Perused the case diary.

2. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with Chapra Town (Nagar) P.S. Case No. 248 of 2025 instituted for the offences under Sections 316(2), 318(4), 303(2), 60 and later on added Section 317(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

3. As per prosecution case, some unknown persons committed theft of Rs. 70 lakh from the cash-box when the petitioner along with gun-man Shailendra Singh had gone to collect cash inside the building of I.C.I.C.I. Bank.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent and has committed no offence as alleged against him and has falsely been implicated in the present case. Admittedly, the petitioner was not present at the relevant time

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.44411 of 2025(4) dt.15-09-2025 2/3 when the theft was committed and it was the duty of co-accused Nirbhay Kumar Singh, driver of the Cash-Van to be there when other members had gone to collect cash. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that the entire money i.e. cash of Rs. 70 lakh has been recovered from the possession of the coaccused Sonu Kumar Singh on 11.05.2025. He further submits that nothing incriminating has been recovered from the conscious possession of the petitioner. The petitioner has no concern with the alleged occurrence. The name of the petitioner has surfaced in this case on the basis of the confessional statement of the co-accused Sonu Kumar Singh recorded before the police which has no evidentiary value in the eye of law. Charge-sheet has been submitted in this case. The petitioner has no criminal antecedent and is languishing in judicial custody since 12.05.2025 without any rhymes or reason.

5. On the other hand, learned A.P.P. for the State has vehemently opposed the prayer for grant of bail to the petitioner, stating that the offence alleged is serious in nature. He further submits that the name of the petitioner has transpired in this case on the basis of the confessional statement of the co-accused Sonu Kumar Singh from whose possession, the entire theft money has been recovered. The petitioner has also confessed is

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.44411 of 2025(4) dt.15-09-2025 3/3 guilt of being involved in the alleged occurrence. The Investigating Officer, after completion of investigation, has submitted charge-sheet against the petitioner for offence under Sections Sections 316(2)/316(5)/318(4), 303(2)/317(2)/61(1) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

6. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and in the facts and circumstances of the case and keeping in view the nature of allegation, gravity of the offence as also the materials available in the case diary, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner.

7. Accordingly, the prayer for bail of the petitioner, above named, is rejected at this stage with a direction to the court below to expedite the trial and conclude the same expeditiously preferably within a period of four months from today. If the trial is not concluded within the period of four months as stated above, the petitioner will be at liberty to renew his prayer before the court below.

(Rudra Prakash Mishra, J) rishi/- U T