2026:JHHC:14587 --1-- A.B.A. No. 2491 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND, RANCHI A.B.A. No. 2491 of 2026 ---- Bunty Kumar @ Bunty Mahato, aged about 34 years, son of Ramnandan Prasad @ Rajesh Kumar, resident of village – Jagat Bhandari, PO and PS – Bhandari, District – Nalanda (Bihar) .... Petitioner -- Versus -- The State of Jharkhand .... Opposite Party ---- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI --- For the Petitioner :- Mr. Pradyot Chatterjee, Advocate For the State :- Mr. Sanat Kr. Jha, Advocate ---- 02/13.05.2026 Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as learned counsel appearing for the State. 2. The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in connection with Govindpur P.S. Case No.408 of 2025, for the alleged offences registered under Sections 271, 272, 274 and 275 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 47(a) of Excise Act pending in the Court of learned Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Dhanbad. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the name of the petitioner has come only on confessional statement and the liquor has been recovered from pickup van. He further submits that the petitioner is neither the owner nor driver of the said pickup van. He then submits that the petitioner is having four criminal antecedents, however, in those cases the petitioner has 2026:JHHC:14587 --2-- A.B.A. No. 2491 of 2026 been granted bail. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the State opposed the prayer and submits that the petitioner is having criminal antecedents. 5. Considering that the name of the petitioner has come only on confessional statement and recovery of liquor has been made from pickup van and the petitioner is neither owner nor driver of the said pickup van. There is no doubt that the petitioner is having criminal antecedents, however, that is not the sole criteria of either rejecting or allowing the anticipatory bail or regular bail. In the attending facts and circumstances of this case, I am inclined to provide anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 6. Accordingly, the petitioner, above named, is hereby directed to surrender before the learned Court within three weeks from today, and in the event of his surrender/arrest, the petitioner, above named, shall be released on bail, on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand), with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of learned Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Dhanbad in connection with Govindpur P.S. Case No.408 of 2025, subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 482(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. (Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.) Dated 13.05.2026 Sangam/