Uttam Verma And ORS. v. State Of West Bengal And ANR

24.06.2026 Court No.28 Item Nos.9 tbsr Partly Allow CRM (A) 1268 of 2026 In Re: - An application for anticipatory bail under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in connection with Jagaddal P.S. Case No.113 of 2026 dated 12.03.2026 under Sections 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

And In the matter of: Uttam Verma & Ors.

....Petitioners.

Mr. Sekhar Kumar Basu, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Soubhik Mitter Ms. Rajnandini Das Mr. Karan Bapuli ...for the petitioners Mr. Soumya Raha ...for the State Report filed on behalf of the State is taken on record. Learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners submits as follows. All and sundry in the in-laws' place have been falsely implicated in this case alleging torture due to dowry demand. There is also an allegation that the petitioner no. 1, being the husband, had married the present petitioner while an earlier marriage subsisted. However, bigamy can be prosecuted as an offence only by way of a complaint.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State relies on the case diary and opposes the prayer for anticipatory bail. He refers to the statements of witnesses and the seizure list. He submits that the earlier wife had also initiated a criminal proceeding against the

accused. The petitioners have also not complied with the notices issued.

At this Stage, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners submits that they had not received any notice from the police.

Considering the above, the other materials available in the case diary and the alleged roles ascribed to each of the present petitioners, while I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, the application for anticipatory bail of the petitioner no. 1 (Uttam Verma) is rejected.

In the event of arrest, the petitioner nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 (Ramashray Verma, Laxmi Verma, Puja Verma, Abhishek Verma, Archana Verma and Shyam Verma) shall be released on bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs.10,000/- each with two sureties of like amount each, one of whom must be local, to the satisfaction of the Arresting Officer and also be subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 438(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 corresponding to Section 482(2) of the BNSS, 2023 and on further condition that the petitioner nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 shall cooperate with investigation, shall not threaten or intimidate witnesses and the petitioner nos. 2, 5 and 7 shall meet the I.O. once a fortnight till submission of report in final form.

The application for anticipatory bail is, thus, disposed of.

Urgent photostat certified copies of this order may be delivered to the learned Advocates for the parties, if applied for, upon compliance of all formalities.

(Jay Sengupta, J.)