Raj Kumar Mandal And ANR v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Criminal Miscellaneous No.57950 of 2017 Arising Out of PS.Case No. -154 Year- 2017 Thana -GOPALPUR District- BHAGALPUR ======================================================

1. Raj Kumar Mandal S/O Late Puran Mandal

2. Binod Mandal S/o Late Sahdeo Mandal Both are Resident of villageDumar, P.S.- Phalika, Distt.- Katihar .... .... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Binod Kumar, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Ramchandra Sahani, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BIRENDRA KUMAR ORAL ORDER 01-02-2018 Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State.

The petitioners are in custody in connection with Gopalpur (Rangra) P.S. Case No.154 of 2017, a case under Sections 20/22 of the N.D.P.S. Act, pending in the Court of learned Sessions Judge, Bhagalpur.

Huge quantity of Ganja was recovered from a tempo on which petitioners and others were back-sitter. Submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the petitioners have no knowledge about what was being carried in the tempo. There is no criminal antecedent. They are in custody since 09.07.2017.

Considering the entire facts, I am not inclined to

Patna High Court Cr.Misc. No.57950 of 2017 (4) dt.01-02-2018 P2/ enlarge the petitioners on bail. Hence, the prayer for bail is refused. The learned trial Court is directed to expedite the trial and conclude the same within nine months, failing which the petitioners would be at liberty to renew the prayer for bail before the trial judge itself, who shall pass a reasoned order. (Birendra Kumar, J) Mkr./- U T