2026:JHHC:15101 --1-- A.B.A. No. 2651 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND, RANCHI A.B.A. No. 2651 of 2026 ---- 1. Jamuna Ganjhu, aged about 29 years, son of Pravil Ganjhu 2. Sanjay Ganjhu, aged about 36 years, son of Baldev Ganjhu 3. Bihari Ganjhu, aged about 27 years, son of Ganauri Ganjhu 4. Ganauri Ganjhu, aged about 60 years, son of Puran Ganjhu 5. Tetar Ganjhu, aged about 35 years, son of Basudeo Ganjhu 6. Jogindra Kumar, aged about 18 years, son of Arjun Ganju 7. Mahendra Kumar Ganjhu, aged about 20 years, son of Ganauri Ganjhu 8. Suresh Ganjhu, aged about 39 years, son of Utam Ganjhu 9. Prameshwar Ganjhu, aged about 42 years, son of Sohrai Ganjhu 10. Nandu Ganjhu, aged about 28 years, son of Bhukhan Ganjhu 11. Kailu Ganjhu, aged about 52 years, son of Uttam Ganjhu 12. Sudesh Ganjhu, aged about 39 years, son of Uttam Ganjhu 13. Sakendra Kumar, aged about 22 years, son of Arjun Ganjhu 14. Sanjit Kumar, aged about 18 years, son of Tetar Ganjhu 15. Murari Bhokta, aged about 28 years, son of Arjun Ganjhu All are residents of village – Tikda Tola Khakhar, PO and PS – Lawalong, District – Chatra .... Petitioners -- Versus -- The State of Jharkhand .... Opposite Party ---- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI --- For the Petitioners :- Mr. Abhay Kr. Chaturvedy, Advocate For the State :- Mrs. Nehala Sharmin, Advocate ---- 02/15.05.2026 Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioners as well as the learned counsel appearing for the State. 2. The petitioners are apprehending their arrest in connection 2026:JHHC:15101 --2-- A.B.A. No. 2651 of 2026 with Lawalong P.S. Case No.08 of 2026, for the alleged offences registered under Sections 18, 27(a), 28, 29 and 30 of NDPS Act and Section 33 of Indian Forest Act pending in the Court of learned Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge, NDPS Cases, Chatra. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that the petitioners have been falsely implicated in this case and the allegation is made that the petitioners were cultivating the poppy plants on the forest land. He further submits that in identical situation co-accused persons have already been granted anticipatory bail in A.B.A. Nos.2081 of 2026, 2006 of 2026, 2359 of 2026, 2508 of 2026 and 2135 of 2026. He fairly submits that petitioner Nos.2, 10, 11 and 12 are having criminal antecedents and details of their cases have been disclosed in paragraph Nos.15, 16 and 17 of the petition. He also submits that petitioner Nos.2 and 11 have already been acquitted in the earlier case and petitioner Nos.10 and 12 have been granted bail in the alleged earlier case by learned Sessions Judge. On these grounds, he submits that anticipatory bail may kindly be granted. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the State opposed the prayer and submits that allegations are there of cultivation of poppy plants and petitioner Nos.2, 10, 11 and 12 are having criminal antecedents. 5. Considering that the land is not belonging to the petitioners and the land is of the forest department, however, the allegation is 2026:JHHC:15101 --3-- A.B.A. No. 2651 of 2026 made of cultivation of poppy plant and petitioner Nos.2, 10, 11 and 12 are having criminal antecedents, however petitioner Nos.2 and 11 have already been acquitted in the earlier case and petitioner Nos.10 and 12 have been granted bail by learned Sessions Judge and criminal antecedent cannot be sole criteria of either allowing or rejecting the anticipatory bail or regular bail and in identical situation co-accused persons have already been granted anticipatory bail in the aforesaid A.B.As. In the attending facts and circumstances of this case, I am inclined to provide anticipatory bail to the petitioners. 6. Accordingly, the petitioners, above named, are hereby directed to surrender before the learned Court within three weeks from today, and in the event of their surrender/arrest, the petitioners, above named, shall be released on bail, on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand) each, with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of learned Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge, NDPS Cases, Chatra in connection with Lawalong P.S. Case No.08 of 2026, subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 482(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. (Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.) Dated 15.05.2026 Sangam/