2026:JHHC:2296 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND, RANCHI ---- A.B.A. No. 465 of 2026 ---- 1.Aakash Mahto @ Aakash Kumar @ Akash Kumar Mehta @ Akash Bharti, son of Amrit Mahto aged about 28 years 2.Kameshar Ganjhu @ Kaleshar Ganjhu @ Kaleshwar Ganjhu son of Tetar Ganjhu aged about 49 years 3.Sarlu Mehta @ Sarlu Mahto, son of Bishun Mehta @ Bishun Mahto, aged about 48 years, All residents of Village Fulwariya PO Pindra, PS B.Nagar, District Chatra .... Petitioners -- Versus -- The State of Jharkhand .... Opposite Party ---- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI --- For the Petitioners :- Mr. Prashant Kr Rahul, Advocate For the State :- Mr. Bishwambhar Shastri, Advocate ---- 2/29.01.2026 Heard learned counsels for petitioners and for State. 2. The petitioners are apprehending their arrest in connection with Complaint Case No.165 of 2024, for offence registered under section 33(1)(c) of Indian Forest Act, pending in court of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chatra. 3. Learned counsel for petitioners submits that the petitioners have nothing to do with the cultivation of poppy plant and the allegations are made that poppy plant was cultivated in the forest land. He next submits that even the said land is not belonging to the petitioners and the petitioners have got no criminal antecedent as disclosed in paragraph no.19. 4. Learned State counsel opposes prayer and submits that the 2026:JHHC:2296 2 allegations are there against the petitioners of cultivation of poppy plant in the forest area. 5. Considering that the said land is of the forest department and not of the petitioners and the petitioners have got no criminal antecedent as aforesaid, and in that view of the matter, the petitioners are directed to surrender before the learned court concerned within two weeks from today, and the learned court concerned shall release the petitioners, above named, on such terms and conditions as well as the sureties, as the learned court may deem fit and proper. 6. This petition, being A.B.A. No.465 of 2026, is accordingly disposed of. ( Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.) 29.01.2026 SI/