2026:JHHC:18753 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Criminal Appeal (S.J) No.1088 of 2025 ---- 1. Satya Narayan Kumar, aged about 39 years, 2. Krishan Kumar @ Krishna Kumar, aged about 33 years, Both son of Late Vishnu Sahu. Both resident of Vishnu Colony, Argora Bye Pass Chowk, Argora Ranchi, P.O. Doranda, P.S. Argora, District Ranchi, Jharkhand ….. …. Appellant(s) -Versus- 1. The State of Jharkhand 2. Jyoti Beng, daughter of late Patrik Beng, resident of Argora Bipass, Near Om Nursing, P.O. + P.S. Argora, District Ranchi, Jharkhand …. …. Respondent(s) ---- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR ---- For the Appellants : Mr. Birendra Kumar, Adv. For the State : Mr. S.K.Srivastava, A.P.P For the Respondent No.2 : Md. Kaisar Alam, Adv. ---- 06/Dated: 25th June, 2026 1. The present appeal has been filed under Section 14-A of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. 2. Heard learned counsel for the appellants and learned counsel for the State and learned counsel for the respondent No.2/victim. 3. It is well settled that although Section 18 of the SC/ST (PoA) Act bars the grant of anticipatory bail, such bar would not apply in case where no prima facie offence under the Act is made out. 4. The present appeal has been filed against the order dated 28.11.2025 passed by the learned Additional Judicial Commissioner-II-Ranchi-cum-Special Judge, SC/ST Act, Ranchi in A.B.P No.2026 of 2025 in connection with SC/ST P.S. Case No.08 of 2017, arising out of Argora P.S. Case No.385 of 2016, registered for the offence under Sections 420, 498A & 406 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 3(1)(iv)of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and cognizance of the offence has been taken under Sections 420, 498A & 406 IPC and 3(i)(g) of the SC/ST (PoA) Act. The case is presently pending in the Court of Additional Judicial Commissioner-II- Ranchi-cum-Special Judge, SC/ST Act, Ranchi. 5. It has been submitted by the learned counsel for the appellants that the informant is the step-mother of the appellants. The marriage has taken place 2026:JHHC:18753 2. Criminal Appeal (S.J) No.1088 of 2025 between the informant and the accused namely, Vishnu Saw (deceased) about 25-30 years ago and they have been blessed with three children i.e., son and two daughters. There was also dispute between the parties, for which, a criminal case had been lodged, which has been resulted into an acquittal. This case is nothing, but a family dispute between the parties and protective measures of the SC/ST (PoA) Act have been misused. 6. Learned counsel for the State and the learned counsel for the respondent No.2 have opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail and it has been submitted that the informant was assaulted and abused. Thus, the offence under Section 18 of the SC/ST (PoA) Act is made out. 7. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and from perusal of the records, it appears that the victim/informant is the step mother of the appellants and they have been living together for the last 30-40 years and as such, a family dispute cannot be aggravated in such a manner and the protective legislation of the SC/ST (PoA) Act cannot be misused. 8. Accordingly, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the appellants. Accordingly, the appellants, named above, are directed to surrender in the trial court within four weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order, and in the event of their arrest or surrender, they shall be enlarged on anticipatory bail, on their furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rs. Ten Thousand) each with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Judicial Commissioner-II-Ranchi-cum-Special Judge, SC/ST Act, Ranchi in connection with SC/ST P.S. Case No.08 of 2017, arising out of Argora P.S. Case No.385 of 2016, on the conditions as laid down under Section 482 of the B.N.S.S., 2023. Further, the appellant(s) will submit self- attested photocopy of his /her/their Aadhaar Card(s) and also submit his/her/their mobile number(s) before the learned trial court which he/she/they will always keep active and will not change it without prior permission of the court, till conclusion of the case. 9. In the result, the present criminal appeal stands allowed and accordingly, disposed of. (Rajesh Kumar, J.) Dated: 25th June, 2026 Raja/- Uploaded on 29.06.2026