( 2026:JHHC:14541 ) -1- A.B.A. No. 944 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI A.B.A. No. 944 of 2026 Lilo Devi, aged about 62 years, wife of Late Mahadev Mahto, resident of Village- Kanadih, P.O. & P.S. Khunti, District- Khunti … Petitioner -Versus- The State of Jharkhand … Opposite Party ----- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI ----- For the Petitioner : Mr. Gaurav, Advocate For the State : Mr. Gautam Rakesh, A.P.P. ----- 04/13.05.2026 Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and learned counsel appearing for the State. 2. The petitioner is apprehending her arrest in connection with Khunti P.S. Case No.201/2025 dated 09.10.2025, registered for the offence under Sections 103(1)/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, pending in the Court of the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Khunti. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner happened to be mother-in-law of the deceased. He further submits that the deceased was residing separately. He then submits that in due course of time, the son of the petitioner has left for his heavenly abode and after her husband’s death, the deceased was residing in another house. He next submits that in course of investigation, number of witnesses including the villagers have been examined and they have stated that one man namely Karma Mahto used to come in the house of the deceased but due to commotion in family she denied her relationship with Karma Mahto and, therefore, their relationship became strained and after that deceased was found dead in her house. He also submits that the said Karma Mahto is still not traceable. He further submits that only on the suspicion, the petitioner has been implicated in the case. He also submits that the marriage of the ( 2026:JHHC:14541 ) -2- A.B.A. No. 944 of 2026 deceased was solemnized in the year 2018 with the son of the petitioner and the fact of relationship of deceased with Karma Mahto has been stated by all the witnesses. On these grounds, he submits that the anticipatory bail may kindly be granted to the petitioner. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the State opposed the prayer and submits that the petitioner happened to be mother-in-law of the deceased and there is allegation against the petitioner, which has been made by the brother of the deceased. On these grounds, he submits that the prayer for anticipatory bail may kindly be rejected. 5. Considering that in the case diary, none of the witnesses have stated anything against this petitioner and it has been pointed out that the deceased was residing separately and she was in relationship with one Karma Mahto and he is still not traceable and in the attending facts and circumstances of the case, I am inclined to extend 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 her arrest or surrender, she shall be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/- (Twenty Five Thousand) with two sureties of like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Khunti in connection with Khunti P.S. Case No.201/2025, subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. (Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.) Dated: 13th May, 2026 Ajay/