PATNA, India, June 11 -- Patna High Court issued the following order on May 13:

Heard learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioners and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State.

2. The petitioners are the in-laws of opposite party no. 2, apprehending their arrest in connection with Goraul P.S. Case No. 162 of 2024, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 341, 323, 354, 448, 498A, 504, 506 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

3. Learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioners taking this Court through the FIR contended that the marriage of the opposite party no. 2 was solemnized with coaccused Manoj Kumar Ray seventeen years ago, however, on account of a family feud, specially between the husband and wife, the present FIR came to be lodged. It is further contended that the petitioners being in-laws of the opposite party no. 2, having least concern with the affairs of the husband and wife and, as such, any demand of dowry and torture after seventeen years, does not inspire confidence. Moreover, the couple also blessed with two children. Except the omnibus allegation, there are no materials suggesting the complicity of the petitioners in the crime.

4. On the other hand, learned Advocate for the State opposed the pre-arrest bail application and submits that the victim has made specific allegation against the petitioners of causing torture on account of non-fulfillment of the demand, as also they tried to set her on fire by pouring kerosene oil on her body.

5. Regard being had to the submissions made on behalf of the parties and considering the fact that the marriage was solemnized seventeen years ago and the petitioners are none else, but the in-laws persons, having fair antecedent, let the petitioners above named be released on bail, in the event of their arrest or surrender before the Court below within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order, upon furnishing bail bonds of Rs.5,000/- (five thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate-1, Vaishali, at Hajipur in connection with Goraul P.S. Case No. 162 of 2024, subject to the conditions laid down in Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 with the further condition that one of the bailors shall be the own/close family members of the petitioners.

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