( 2026:JHHC:7762 ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI B.A.No. 1748 of 2026 Santosh Bharti @ Santosh Kumar --- --- Petitioner Versus The State of Jharkhand --- --- Opp. Party --- CORAM: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay --- For the Petitioner: Mr. K.S. Nanda, Advocate For the Resp.-State: Ms. Sushma Aind, A.P.P. --- 02 / 19.03.2026 Heard Mr. K.S. Nanda, learned Counsel for the petitioner and learned A.P.P. 2. The petitioner is an accused in connection with Chatra Sadar P.S. Case No. 301/2025. 3. It has been alleged that the petitioner and another accused had committed rape upon the informant. 4. Submission has been advanced by the learned Counsel for the petitioner that there is a delay of 9 days in institution of the First Information Report. 5. It has further been submitted that neither in the First Information Report nor in her statement recorded under Section 183 BNSS the informant specified the fact as to whether rape was committed upon her or not. 6. Learned Counsel adds that the petitioner is in custody since 15.09.2025. 7. Learned A.P.P. has opposed the prayer for bail of the petitioner. 8. It appears that the informant was a minor aged 14 years and she has categorically stated about the immoral act which was done upon her ( 2026:JHHC:7762 ) by the petitioner and another co-accused even in her statement recorded under Section 183 BNSS. 9. On consideration of the aforesaid fact, I am not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner. The same is hereby rejected. (Rongon Mukhopadhyay, J) P.K.S. Uploaded