2026:JHHC:3517-DB 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Criminal Appeal (DB) No. 60 of 2026 ---- Firoz Ansari @ Firoj Ansari, aged about 37 years, son of Md. Usman Ansari, resident of Kathitand, PO and PS Ratu, District Ranchi (Jharkhand) ....Appellant (s) Versus The State of Jharkhand ....Respondent (s) --- CORAM: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Roshan --- For the Appellant(s) : Mr. Ankit Apurva, Advocate For the Respondent(s) : Mr. Shailendra Kumar Tiwari, Spl. PP --- 04/10.02.2026 Heard Mr. Ankit Apurva, learned counsel for the appellant and Mr. Shailendra Kumar Tiwari, learned Spl. PP. 2. This appeal is directed against the order dated 17.12.2025 passed by the learned Additional Judicial Commissioner-XVIII in A.B.P No. 3233 of 2025 arising out of Argora PS Case No. 393 of 2023 whereby and whereunder the prayer for anticipatory bail of the appellant has been rejected. 3. It has been alleged that the appellant had contacted the informant through mobile and asked him to come to Ranchi to show his collection of old currency notes which are considered as antiques. Pursuant to a meeting held between the informant and the appellant, the informant had purchased ten notes for a total consideration amount of Rs. 8.77 Lakhs and an amount of Rs. 6.36 Lakhs was transferred into the account of the appellant and his sister and he had also handed over gold coin and as well as a gold chain. Subsequently, the informant having some doubts had enquired and came to know that the currency notes were fake. 4. Submission has been advanced by learned counsel for the appellant that the appellant does not have any criminal antecedent. It has been submitted that the appellant is a member of the Numismatic Society of Calcutta since 2018. The society exclusively deals in gold/antique currency notes or coins and organises exhibitions. Learned counsel submits that though an 2026:JHHC:3517-DB 2 allegation has been made by the informant that the old currency notes which were sold to the informant by the appellant were fake but there is no report of any reputed institution certifying the said fact. 5. Learned Spl. PP has opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail of the appellant. 6. The credentials of the appellant being a dealer in antique currency notes appear from the fact that he is a life member of the Numismatic Society of Calcutta and learned counsel for the appellant has submitted at the Bar a souvenir in which the name as well as photograph of the appellant is appearing. In absence of there being any substantial proof with respect to the allegations made by the informant regarding the selling of fake old currency notes by the appellant and the fact that the appellant is dealing in old currency notes since long being a member of the Numismatic Society of Calcutta, we are inclined to allow this appeal. 7. Accordingly, we, while setting aside the order dated 17.12.2025 passed by the learned Additional Judicial Commissioner-XVIII in A.B.P No. 3233 of 2025 arising out of Argora PS Case No. 393 of 2023, direct the appellant, above- named, to surrender before the learned trial Court within a period of four weeks from today and on his surrender he shall be released on anticipatory bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand Only) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned JMFC, Ranchi in connection with Argora PS Case No. 393 of 2023, subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 438(2) Cr.P.C. 8. This appeal stands allowed. (Rongon Mukhopadhyay, J.) (Deepak Roshan, J.) 10th February, 2026 Jk/Amit Uploaded on 13/02/2026