2026:JHHC:18058 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Criminal Appeal (S.J.) No.217 of 2025 ---- Rohit Kumar Singh @ Rohit Singh @ Lalu Singh, Aged about 27 years, S/o Sri Jitendra Kumar Singh, R/o Railway Colony, Near Kali Mandir, P.O.+P.S.- Katras, Dis.-Dhanbad. …. …. Appellant Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand 2. Nandu Kumar, Aged about 43 years, s/o Kamta Singh, Assistant Sub Inspector at Katras Police Station, P.O.+P.S.- Katras, Dist.-Dhanbad. …. …. Respondents ---- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR ---- For the Appellant : Mrs. Aanya, Adv. Mr. Rajiv Ranjan, Adv. For the State : Mrs. Amrita Kumari, A.P.P. ---- 05/Dated: 22nd June, 2026 1. In spite of valid service of notice, nobody appears on behalf of the Respondent No.2. 2. The present appeal has been filed under Section 14-A of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. 3. Heard learned counsel for the appellant and learned counsel for the State. 4. The appeal has been filed for grant of anticipatory bail by challenging the impugned order dated 21.02.2025 in A.B.P. No.475 of 2025 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-1st & I/C Special Judge SC/ST Act, Dhanbad in connection with Katras P.S. Case No.01 of 2025, registered for the offence under Sections 191(2), 126(2), 115(2), 109(1), 352, 351(2), 324(4), 132, of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and for the offence under Section 3 (r), 3(s) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case is presently pending in the court of the learned Additional Sessions Judge-1st & I/C Special Judge SC/ST Act, Dhanbad. 2026:JHHC:18058 Page | 2 Criminal Appeal (S.J.) No.217 of 2025 5. Although Section 18 of the SC/ST (PoA) Act bars the grant of anticipatory bail, such embargo would not apply where no prima facie offence under the provisions of the Act is made out. 6. It has been submitted by the learned counsel for the appellant that at best it is a case of nuisance created by a group on the eve of new year. The present appellant has been roped in this case only on the basis of confession of the co-accused. Thus, neither the case is made out nor there is any material to connect this appellant with the incident except the confession. On the above basis, the prayer for anticipatory bail has been made. 7. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State has opposed the prayer for bail. 8. From perusal of the FIR, it appears that it is not a case under SC/ST (PoA) Act. 9. Considering the nature of allegation, the appellant, above named, is directed to surrender in the court below within four weeks from the date of receipt/ production of the copy of this order and in the event of his arrest or surrender, he shall be enlarged on bail, on his furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Ten Thousand only) with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of learned Additional Sessions Judge-1st & I/C Special Judge SC/ST Act, Dhanbad in connection with Katras P.S. Case No.01 of 2025 on the conditions as laid down under Section 482 B.N.S.S., 2023. Further, the appellant will submit self-attested photocopy of his Aadhaar Card and also submit his mobile number before the learned court below which he will always keep active and will not change it during pendency of this case without prior permission of the court. 10. In the result, the instant appeal stands allowed and disposed of. (Rajesh Kumar, J.) Dated: 22nd June, 2026 Amar/- Uploaded on 23.06.2026