Pankaj Singh @ Pankaj Kumar v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.83478 of 2025 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-87 Year-2025 Thana- GAYA COMPLAINT CASE DistrictGaya ====================================================== Pankaj Singh @ Pankaj Kumar S/O Sri Subodh Singh R/O Village- Afzalpur, Ward No. 22, P.S- Sherghati, Distt.- Gaya.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar Bihar 2.

Nilam Kumari W/O Pankaj Singh @ Pankaj Kumar, D/O Jairam Singh R/O Village- Dadhma, P.S- Belaganj, Distt.- Gaya. ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Ashok Singh, Advocate.

For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr. Syed Ehteshamuddin, APP.

For O.P. No.2 :

Mr. Arun Kumar Tiwary, Advocate.

====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PURNENDU SINGH ORAL ORDER 20-04-2026 Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, learned APP for the State and learned counsel for the O.P. No.2.

2. The petitioner seeks pre-arrest bail in connection with Complaint Case No. 87 of 2025 for the offences punishable under Sections 115, 352(2) and 85 of the BNS and Sections 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

3. The allegation is of subjecting the O.P. No.2 to various sorts of torture and cruelty for non-fulfillment of demand of dowry.

4. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is the husband of the O.P.

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.83478 of 2025(3) dt.20-04-2026 2/3 No.2 and the allegation levelled against him is false and concocted. The petitioner in Paragraph No. 10 of the bail application has specifically stated that he is ready to keep his wife with full dignity and honour. The petitioner has clean antecedent.

5. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the O.P. No.2 and learned APP for the State jointly opposed the prayer for bail to the petitioner.

6. Considering the nature of allegation against the petitioner, the petitioner, above named, is directed to be released on pre-arrest bail provisionally on such terms and conditions as the learned District Court deems it fit and proper, subject to the condition as laid down under Section 438(2) Cr.P.C / 482(2) BNSS.

7. This Court finds that the matrimonial dispute is not an offense against the society rather a matrimonial dispute is a private conflict between spouses and does not inherently constitute an offence against society, as has been held by the Apex Court in the case of Rajendra Bhagat v. State of Jharkhand, reported in (2022) 18 SCC 465. Learned District Court is directed to examine the matter for settlement of the dispute outside the court by way of mediation in light of the law

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.83478 of 2025(3) dt.20-04-2026 3/3 laid down by the Apex Court in case of Rajendra Bhagat (supra) and take necessary steps to issue notices to the respective parties and upon their appearance refer the matter before the learned Mediator of the District Mediation Centre by fixing a date for appearance of the parties to give effect to "Mediation for the Nation 2.0".

8. The bail application stands disposed of.

9. Let a copy of this order be communicated to the Member Secretary, Bihar State Legal Services Authority and the Patna High Court Mediation Centre for the purpose of record. (Purnendu Singh, J) mantreshwar/- U T