2026:JHHC:20786 --1-- A.B.A. No. 3829 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND, RANCHI A.B.A. No. 3829 of 2026 ---- 1. Sagun Mahato @ Sagun Mahto, aged about 35 years, son of Rohit Mahto, resident of village – Manamath, PO – Jori, PS – Bashisthnagar, District – Chatra 2. Dhaneshwar Kumar Mahto, aged about 28 years, son of Parash Nath Mahto, resident of village – Bhairwa, PO and PS – Kunda, District – Chatra 3. Laxman Ganjhu, aged about 36 years, son of Bisu Ganjhu, resident of village – Amona, PO, PS and District – Chatra 4. Ramdeo Ganjhu, aged about 52 years, son of Late Barhan Ganjhu, resident of village- Dari, PO, PS and District – Chatra .... Petitioners -- Versus -- The State of Jharkhand .... Opposite Party ---- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI --- For the Petitioners :- Mr. Manish Yadav, Advocate For the State :- Mrs. Vandana Bharti, Advocate ---- 02/14.07.2026 Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioners as well as the learned counsel appearing for the State. 2. The petitioners are apprehending their arrest in connection with Complaint Case No.400 of 2026 for the alleged offences registered under Section 33(1)(C) of Indian Forest Act pending in the Court of learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chatra. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that the petitioners have been implicated in this case only on suspicion and the allegations are made of cultivation of poppy plant on the 2026:JHHC:20786 --2-- A.B.A. No. 3829 of 2026 forest land. He further submits that the petitioners are villagers and they have got no criminal antecedent as disclosed in paragraph No.12 of the petition. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the State opposed the prayer and submits that the allegations are there of cultivation of poppy plants on the forest land. 5. Considering that the land is of the forest department and that is not belonging to the petitioners and the petitioners are said to be villagers and they have got no criminal antecedent as disclosed in paragraph No.12 of the petition, I am inclined to provide anticipatory bail to the petitioners. 6. Accordingly, the petitioners, above named, are hereby directed to surrender before the learned Court within three weeks from today, and in the event of his surrender/arrest, the petitioners, above named, shall be released on bail, on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand) each, with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chatra in connection with Complaint Case No.400 of 2026, subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 482(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. (Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.) Dated 14.07.2026 Sangam/