2026:JHHC:14137 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Criminal Appeal (S.J.) No.1028 of 2025 ---- Govind Thakur, Aged about 25 years, son of Gajannd Thakur, Resident of Village – Bhatbhaga, Post Office and Police Station - Rajmahal, District – Sahebganj. …. …. Appellant Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand 2. Suresh Besra, Son of Late Thakur Besra, Resident of Village – Barmasia, P.O.+P.S.- Ranga, District – Sahibganj. …. …. Respondents ---- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR ---- For the Appellant : Mr. Raja Ravi Shekhar Singh, Adv. For the State : Mr. Achinto Sen, A.P.P. For the Respondent No.2 : Ms. Ayushi, Amicus Curiae ---- 04/Dated: 11th May, 2026 1. The present appeal has been filed under Section 14-A of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. 2. Heard learned counsel for the appellant, learned counsel for the State and learned Amicus Curiae. 3. It is well settled that although Section 18 of the SC/ST (PoA) Act bars the grant of anticipatory bail, such bar would not apply in cases where no prima facie offence under the Act is made out. 4. The appeal has been filed against the impugned order dated 06.11.2025 passed by the learned (I/C) Special Judge (SC/ST), Sahibganj in A.B.P. No.356 of 2025 in connection with Ranga P.S. Case No.50 of 2025, registered for the offence under Sections 196, 356(2), 353, 352(3), 352 & 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and under Section 3(1)(r) (s) of the SC/ST (PoA) Act. The case is presently pending in the court of the learned Special Judge SC/ST Court, Sahibganj. 5. From perusal of the FIR, it appears that the appellant is a news reporter and the allegation is general and omnibus in nature. 2026:JHHC:14137 Page | 2 Criminal Appeal (S.J.) No.1028 of 2025 6. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State and the learned Amicus Curiae have opposed the prayer for bail. 7. Considering the language of the FIR, the appellant, above named, is directed to surrender in the court below within four weeks from the date of receipt/ production of the 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/- (Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of learned Special Judge SC/ST Court, Sahibganj in connection with Ranga P.S. Case No.50 of 2025 on the conditions as laid down under Section 482 B.N.S.S., 2023. Further, the appellant will submit self-attested photocopy of his Aadhaar Card and also submit his mobile number before the learned court below which he will always keep active and will not change it during pendency of this case without prior permission of the court. 8. In the result, the instant appeal stands allowed and disposed of. 9. The assistance given by Ms. Ayushi, learned amicus curiae, is highly appreciable. 10. Let this order be communicated to the learned Member Secretary, JHALSA, Ranchi, for the purpose of remuneration to be paid to the learned Amicus Curiae as permissible. (Rajesh Kumar, J.) Dated: 11th May, 2026 Amar/- Uploaded on 12.05.2026