PATNA, India, May 29 -- Patna High Court issued the following order on May 1:

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, State and complainant/opposite party no. 2.

2. The petitioner apprehends his arrest in a complaint case punishable for the offence under Sections 409, 420 of the Indian Penal Code.

3. This petitioner, who at the relevant time was posted as Village Postman, is alleged to have defalcated government money of Rs. 5,20,516/- by using RICT device of the postal department.

4. At the outset, learned counsel for the petitioner, by way of referring to paragraph - 2 of the supplementary affidavit filed on 16.04.2025, submits that petitioner is ready to refund the alleged amount i.e. Rs. 5,20,516/- to the postal department in easy installments.

5. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, let the above named petitioner, in the event of his arrest/surrender within a period of eight weeks from today, be enlarged 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 Chief Judicial Magistrate, West Champaran at Bettiah in connection with Jogapatti P.S. Case No. 290 of 2024, subject to condition as laid down under Section 438(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure with further following conditions:

"(A) At the time of furnishing bail-bond, the petitioner shall refund Rs. 1,20,516/- (one lac twenty thousand five hundred sixteen only) in the office concerned Postal Superintendent, Bettiah (West Champaran).

(B) Rest amount i.e. Rs. 4,00,000/- (four lacs) shall be refunded in the concerned office of postal department in 8 (eight) installments of Rs. 50,000/- (fifty thousand) each within a period of one year from the date of furnishing bail-bond.

(C) If petitioner fails to comply the direction of this Court, the learned Court below would be at liberty to cancel the bail-bond of the petitioner."

6. It is made clear that aforesaid order has been passed only for the consideration of prayer for anticipatory bail of petitioner without going into the merit of the case.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.