Ashok Kumar Singh v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.67685 of 2025 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-293 Year-2016 Thana- DARBHANGA SADAR DistrictDarbhanga ====================================================== 1.

Ashok Kumar Singh Son of Late Shreedhar Singh Resident of VillageHanuman Nagar, Supaul, P.S.- Biroul, Dist- Darbhanga 2.

Suresh Yadav son of Late Ram Khelawan Yadav Resident Of VillageNariyal tol, Ps- Keoti, Dist- Darbhanga 3.

Indra Mohan Sahni Son of Late Sitai Sahni Resident Of Village- Jaughatta, ps- Bahera, Distt- Darbhanga ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Saurav Anand For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr.Bhanu Pratap Singh ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA ORAL ORDER 10-02-2026 1.

Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned A.P.P. for the State.

2.

Learned counsel for the petitioner, at the outset, seeks permission to withdraw the anticipatory bail application with respect to petitioner no. 3 (Indra Mohan Sahni), who was arrested during pendency of the instant application. 3.

Permission is accorded.

4.

Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application is dismissed as withdrawn with respect to petitioner no. 3 (Indra Mohan Sahni).

5.

The petitioners apprehend their arrest in a case

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.67685 of 2025(3) dt.10-02-2026 2/3 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 420, 409 and 477(A) of the Indian Penal Code.

6.

Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that petitioner nos. 1 and 2 have antecedent of one case. It is next submitted that the District Programme Officer (Establishment), Darbhanga vide letter no. 2199 dated 07.06.2016 directed the Panchayat Secretaries for depositing the merit list, folder file of Niyojit Teachers appointed in between 2003 to 18.05.2015 till 16.06.2016 but the Panchayat Secretary of different Panchayats did not deposit the merit list.

7.

Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that from tenor of the allegation, it would manifest that no criminal offence is made out. It is further submitted that if the District Programme Officer was aggrieved by the fact that merit list etc. was not being submitted by the concerned Panchayat Secretary in that event he could have proceeded against them departmentally but then institution of the instant FIR was a complete misuse of the power by resorting to a criminal proceeding. It is next submitted that similarly situated coaccused Ashok Kumar Sahni had approached this Court seeking anticipatory bail by filing Cr. Misc No. 23981 of 2025 and the same came to be allowed by an order dated 30-4-2025.

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.67685 of 2025(3) dt.10-02-2026 3/3 8.

Learned A.P.P. for the State opposes the prayer for anticipatory bail of the petitioners.

9.

Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioners, the petitioner nos. 1 and 2, abovenamed, in the event of their arrest or surrender within a period of six weeks from today, be released on anticipatory bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) each with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned trial court where the case is pending/successor court in connection with Darbhanga Sadar P.S. Case No. 293 of 2016, subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 482 (2) of the BNSS.

(Satyavrat Verma, J) Sumit/- U T