RANCHI, India, Nov. 6 -- Jharkhand High Court issued the following order on Oct. 6:

Heard Mr. Lukesh Kumar, learned counsel for the appellant and Mr. Saket Kumar, learned A.P.P.

This appeal is directed against the order dated 21.08.2025 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-I, Bermo at Tenughat in Misc. Criminal Application No. 224/2025 corresponding to S.T. No. 207/2015 arising out of Nawadih P.S. Case No. 18/2010, whereby and whereunder, the prayer for bail of the appellant has been rejected.

Submission has been advanced by the learned counsel for the appellant that one of the co-accused similarly situated, namely, Vinod Manjhi alias Binod Kumar, who happens to be the son of the appellant has been granted bail by a Co-ordinate Bench of this Court. It has further been submitted that the appellant has been implicated primarily on account of the disclosure made by the villagers that the appellant and Vinod Manjhi were present in the house of Pravil Da who has also been granted bail in B.A. No. 1186 of 2017. Learned counsel adds that the appellant is in custody since 11.08.2025.

Learned A.P.P. has opposed the prayer for bail of the appellant.

It has been alleged that on the disclosure made by Bhuneshwar Mahto, the house of one Pravil Da was raided and several explosive substances and Rs. 4 lakhs in cash were recovered. It appears that Pravil Da has already been granted bail in B.A. No. 1186 of 2017 and so far as Vinod Manjhi @ Binod Kumar is concerned, he has also been released on bail pursuant to the order passed in Cr. Appeal (DB) No. 1042 of 2025. The case of the appellant is similarly situated to that of Vinod Manjhi alias Binod Kumar and considering the said fact, we, while setting aside the order dated order dated 21.08.2025 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-I, Bermo at Tenughat in Misc. Criminal Application No. 224/2025 corresponding to S.T. No. 207/2015 arising out of Nawadih P.S. Case No. 18/2010, direct that the appellant be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Additional Sessions Judge-I, Bermo at Tenughat in connection with Nawadih P.S. Case No. 18/2010.

This appeal is allowed.

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