2026:JHHC:6112-DB IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Cr. Appeal (DB) No. 252 of 2026 Chhotu Bhuiyan @ Pandit @ Baba --- --- Appellant Versus The State of Jharkhand. --- --- Respondent --- CORAM: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay Hon’ble Mr. Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava --- For the Appellant : Mr. Prakash Kr. Sahay, Adv. For the Respondent : A.P.P 02/09.03.2026 Heard Mr. Prakash Kr. Sahay, learned counsel for the appellant and learned A.P.P. This appeal is directed against the order dated 24.01.2026 passed in M.C.A. No. 140 of 2026 arising out of Chatra Sadar P.S. Case No. 74 of 2024 by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-III, Chatra whereby and whereunder the prayer for bail of the appellant has been rejected. It appears that the appellant had earlier moved for grant of bail in Cr. Appeal (DB) (Filing) No.28807 of 2025 but the same was dismissed as withdrawn since the appeal was preferred beyond the statutory period of 90 days as envisaged in Section 21(5) of the NIA Act. It has been alleged that there was an encounter between the extremists and the police personnel as a result of which two Police personnel had died and one had suffered injury. Submission has been advanced by learned counsel for the appellant the appellant has been implicated on the confessional statement of co-accused Ramesh Munda who has been granted bail in Cr. Appeal (DB) No.1001 of 2025. Learned counsel adds that the appellant is in custody since 25.06.2024. Learned A.P.P has opposed the prayer of the appellant for bail and has submitted that the appellant has got several criminal antecedents. Regard being had to the manner of implication of the appellant and the fact that his name has come on the confessional statement of one of the co-accused persons who has already been granted bail, as noted above, we while setting aside the order dated 24.01.2026 passed in M.C.A. No. 140 of 2026 arising out of Chatra Sadar P.S. Case No. 74 of 2024 by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-III, Chatra, direct the appellant to be released on 2 bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of learned Additional Sessions Judge-III, Chatra in M.C.A. No. 140 of 2026. This appeal stands allowed and disposed of. (Rongon Mukhopadhyay, J.) (Pradeep Kumar Srivastava, J.) Shamim/ Uploaded: 10 /03/2026