[2026:JHHC:535] IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI B.A. No.11522 of 2025 ------ Asha Devi, aged about 40 years wife of Yamuna Prajapati, resident of village- Basariya Kala, P.O. & P.S. Chainpur, District- Palamau .... .... …. Petitioner Versus The State of Jharkhand .... .... .... Opposite Party ------ CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR CHOUDHARY ------ For the Petitioner : Mr. Jitendra Shankar Singh, Advocate For the State : Mr. Bishambhar Shastri, Addl.P.P ------ Order No.03 Dated-09-01-2026 Heard the parties. The petitioner has been made accused in connection with Chainpur P.S. Case No.302 of 2023 corresponding to G.R. Case No.515 of 2024 (S.T. No.194 of 2024 registered for the offence punishable under Section 302, 201, 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3, 4 of the Prevention of Witch (Daain) Practices Act, 2001. This is the second journey of the petitioner with the prayer for regular bail as earlier the prayer for bail of the petitioner was rejected on merit by this Court vide order dated 02.07.2025 passed in B.A. No.5296 of 2025. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the allegation against the petitioner is that the petitioner, in furtherance of common intention with the co- accused persons, committed murder of Lalita Kunvar by calling her Daain. It is submitted that the allegation against the petitioner is false. It is then submitted that the petitioner is a female. It is then submitted that the petitioner has been in custody since 18.12.2024 as is evident from para-12 of the instant bail application. Hence it is submitted that the petitioner be released on bail. Learned Addl. P.P. appearing for the State vehemently opposes the prayer for bail and submits that there is direct and specific allegation against the petitioner of committing murder of Lalita Kunvar. It is further submitted that the sole witness examined by the prosecution, has also supported the case of the prosecution. Hence, it is submitted that there is every chance of the petitioner absconding and tampering with the evidence if released on bail. It is, therefore, submitted that the petitioner ought not be released on bail at this stage. Considering the serious allegation against the petitioner of being in furtherance of common intention with the co-accused persons, committing murder of Lalita Kunvar by calling her Daain, this Court is of the considered view that this is not a fit case where the above-named petitioner be released on bail. Accordingly, the prayer for bail of the above-named petitioner is rejected for the same reasons as mentioned in the detailed order dated 02.07.2025 passed in B.A. No.5296 of 2025. (Anil Kumar Choudhary, J.) Dated- 09.01.2026-Animesh/