2026:JHHC:13263 1 Criminal Appeal (SJ) No. 1082 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Criminal Appeal (SJ) No. 1082 of 2025 Ranjeet Singh, aged about 39 years, Son of Surendra Singh, Resident of village- Kharaunda, P.O.- Sirma, P.S.- Patan, District- Palamau, Jharkhand …....... Appellant(s) Vrs. 1. State of Jharkhand 2.Radhakrishna Kishor, Son of not known to the appellant, neither mentioned in the F.I.R, at present holding the post of Minister, Finance Planning & Development and Commercial Tax and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Jharkhand, at Ashok Nagar No. 3, P.O. & P.S.- Argora, District- Ranchi, Jharkhand ........ Respondent(s) ….... CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR For the Appellant(s) : Mr. Rajeev Ranjan Tiwari, Advocate For the Respondent no.2 : Mr. Anurag Kashyap, Advocate For the State : Mr. Pankaj Kumar, P.P. 06/05.05.2026 The present appeal has been filed under Section 14(A) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 for grant of anticipatory bail, although Section 18 of the SC/ST (POA) Act bars the grant of anticipatory bail. 2. Heard learned counsel for the appellant and learned counsel for the respondent no.2.-informant(victim) as well as learned counsel for the State. 3. The present appeal is directed against the order dated 10.12.2025 passed by the learned Special Judge, SC/ST(POA) Act, Palamau in M.C.A. No. 2396 of 2025 arising out of Town P.S. Case No. 406 of 2025, registered for the offence under Section 352 & 356(2) of the B.N.S, 2023 and Sections 3(1)(r)(u) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 whereby and whereunder the prayer of the appellant for grant of anticipatory bail has been rejected. The case is presently pending before the court of learned Special Judge, SC/ST(POA) Act, Palamau. 4. By referring to the allegation, it has been submitted by learned counsel for the appellant that even as per the allegation, no caste name has been used rather the informant-victim has been criticized since being a political leader he is deviating from the Party line. It is further submitted that the complaint, which is supported by the Facebook 2026:JHHC:13263 2 Criminal Appeal (SJ) No. 1082 of 2025 comment, does not justify invocation of the SC/ST Act. The alleged victim is a Cabinet Minister in the Government of Jharkhand and it appears that the Police also became hyper active and they have proceeded in the matter inspite of the fact that the F.I.R does not disclose commission of offence under the SC/ST Act. From perusal of the case diary, it appears that some independent witnesses have supported the abusive language that has been used but the victim himself is not aware of such incident as per the allegation made in the complaint. In that view of the matter, it has been submitted that it is nothing but misuse of the protective provision of the SC/ST Act and that too by a Cabinet Minister against a common citizen of the State. 5. On the other hand, learned counsel the State has opposed the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail and submitted that process under Section 82 and 83 of the Cr.P.C. (now Sections 84 and 85 of the BNSS, 2023) have been initiated and as such, prayer for grant of anticipatory bail is not maintainable. 6. However, learned counsel for the victim has not opposed the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail. 7. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and on perusal of the materials on record, it appears that the Complaint does not disclose the commission of offence under the SC/ST Act and it seems that the Police has also become hyper active to proceed in the matter and even the victim has not opposed the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail. 8. Considering the special feature of this case, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the appellant. 9. Accordingly, the appellant, above named, is directed to surrender before the learned Trial Court within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt/production of copy of this order and in the event of his arrest or surrender, he shall be enlarged on bail, on his furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- ( Rupees Ten Thousand only) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Special Judge, SC/ST (POA), Palamau in connection with Town P.S. 2026:JHHC:13263 3 Criminal Appeal (SJ) No. 1082 of 2025 Case No. 406 of 2025 on the conditions as laid down under Section 482 of the B.N.S.S., 2023. Further, the appellant will submit self- attested photo copy of his Aadhaar Card and also submit his mobile number before the learned trial court which he will always keep active and will not change it during pendency of this case without prior permission of the Court. 10. In the result, the present appeal is allowed and accordingly disposed of. (Rajesh Kumar, J.) 05.05.2026 A. Mohanty Uploaded ____/____/2026