( 2026:JHHC:336 ) -1- A.B.A. No. 7503 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI A.B.A. No. 7503 of 2025 Santosh Kumar, aged about 27 years, S/o Brahamdev Yadav, R/o Sector 9/A, Bada Khatal, P.O. Sector-9, P.S. Harla, District- Bokaro, Jharkhand … Petitioner -Versus- The State of Jharkhand … Opposite Party ----- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI ----- For the Petitioner : Mr. Baibhaw Gahlaut, Advocate For the State : Mr. Prabir Kumar Chatterjee, Spl.P.P. ----- 02/08.01.2026 Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and learned counsel appearing for the State. 2. The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in connection with Pindrajora P.S. Case No.186 of 2025, registered for the offence under Sections 317(2) and 3(5) of the BNS, Sections 11(1)(a)(b)(d)(e)(h)(i) of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, Sections 4, 47(a)(b), 48, 49(a)(b), 51(a), 52, 53 and 54(1)(2) of the Transport of Animals Rules, 1978 and Sections 3, 4 and 12 of Jharkhand Cow Slaughter Prohibition Act, 2005, pending in the Court of the learned Judicial Magistrate, 1st Class, Bokaro. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is happened to be the owner cum driver of the pick-up van. He further submits that the allegations are made that 5 cows were being carried in the said pick-up van. He next submits that in the FIR, the place of occurrence is mentioned as Mirdha Check Point, whereas, in the seizure list the place of occurrence is said to be Pindrajora. He also submits that the petitioner is having one criminal antecedent, however, that is of different nature and not of bovine animals. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the State opposed the prayer and ( 2026:JHHC:336 ) -2- A.B.A. No. 7503 of 2025 submits that illegally 5 cows were being carried in the said pick-up van. 5. Looking into the contents of the Fir, it transpires that in the FIR, the place of occurrence is said to be Mirdha Check Point, whereas, in the seizure list, it has been mentioned as Pindrajora. The petitioner is having one criminal antecedent, however, that is of different nature. The criminal antecedent is not the sole criterion either for allowing or rejecting the anticipatory bail application. In the attending facts and circumstances of the case, I am inclined to extend the privilege of anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 6. Accordingly, the above-named petitioner is directed to surrender before the learned Court within three weeks from today and in the event of his arrest or surrender, he shall be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/- (Twenty Five Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Judicial Magistrate, 1st Class, Bokaro in connection with Pindrajora P.S. Case No.186 of 2025, subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. (Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.) Dated: 8th January, 2026 Ajay/