Page No.# 1/3 GAHC010103582024 2025:GAU-AS:5872 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : AB/1349/2024 MANOJ KUMAR DAS S/O LATE KHAGENDRA NATH DAS R/O E5, ROYAL SILVER HEIGHTS, KARNACHAL ROAD, SILPUKHURI, GUWAHATI- 781003 DIST. KAMRUP (METRO), ASSAM VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM REP BY THE PP, ASSAM Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. A CHAUDHURY, MS A HUSSAIN,R BEGUM,H G DAISY,MR. J AHMED,MR. D BORA,MR. N MAHAJAN,MR. P K DAS Advocate for the Respondent : PP, ASSAM, BEFORE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE MANASH RANJAN PATHAK ORDER 13-05-2025 Heard Mr. J. Ahmed, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. K. K. Das, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, Assam. Page No.# 2/3 2. Apprehending his arrest, the petitioner, namely, Manoj Kumar Das, son of late Khagendra Nath Das, resident of E5, Royal Silver Heights, Karnachal Road, Silpukhuri, Guwahati-781003, District-Kamrup (Metro), Guwahati, Assam has filed this application under Section 438 CrPC on 22.05.2024 seeking pre arrest bail in Patharkandi P.S. Case No. 120/2024 corresponding to G.R. No. 838/2024 registered under Sections 420/409 IPC. 3. The petitioner is a Forest Ranger, Patherkandi Forest Range under Karimganj Forest Division. 4. As per the FIR dated 25.04.2023 lodged before the Superintendent of Police, District- Karimganj, now Sribhumi, the petitioner had illegally withdrawn an amount of Rs.21,05,600/- in cash by way of self cheque during the period from 27.03.2023 to 21.04.2024 committing financial irregularities and misappropriating huge amount of public money. 5. From the case diary placed before the Court today by Mr. K. K. Das, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, Assam, it is seen that in 50 hectors of ANR Plantation under CAMPA Scheme in the year 2019-20 at Panighat (Tilbhum Reserve Forest) under Patharkandi Range, an amount of Rs.42,11,200/- was sanctioned and out of which, Rs.21,05,600/- was allocated. 6. The petitioner, being in-Charge Range Forest Officer of Patherkandi (CAMPA), violating all the provisions, the Rules and Guidelines withdrew an amount of Rs.21,05,600/- from UCO Bank by cash, but completed only 30% to 35% of the work under said CAMPA Scheme and thereby, misappropriated huge amount of public money. 7. During the investigation by a team of Forest Officials, they found less than 2500 samplings in the area under the CAMPA Scheme, planted by the petitioner. 8. The bail prayer of the petitioner has been objected by the concerned Investigating Officer stating that the petitioner, i.e., the FIR named accused has already withdrawn the money by cash, misused huge amount of public money for his wrongful gain and if, at this stage, he is released on bail, the investigation of the case will be hampered. 9. It is seen that pursuant to the interim bail granted to the petitioner in said Patharkandi P.S. Case No. 120/2024 by the Court by order dated 31.07.2024, he appeared before the concerned Investigating Officer of the case, but by the up-to-date report of the concerned Investigating Officer dated 06.05.2025 objected the granting of bail to the petitioner. Page No.# 3/3 10. Considering such materials in the case diary, this Court is of the view that it is not a fit case to grant pre-arrest bail to the petitioner in said Patharkandi P.S. Case No. 120/2024. 11. Accordingly, this pre-arrest bail application of the petitioner, namely, Manoj Kumar Das, son of late Khagendra Nath Das in said Patharkandi P.S. Case No. 120/2024 corresponding to G.R. No. 838/2024 stands rejected. 12. The interim pre-arrest bail granted to the petitioner earlier by order dated 31.07.2024 in said Patharkandi P.S. Case No. 120/2024 is hereby recalled/stands vacated. 13. Return the case diary. JUDGE Comparing Assistant