( 2026:JHHC:21882 ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI B.A. No. 5393 of 2026 Baso Yadav son of Late Lalo Yadav … … Petitioner Versus The State of Jharkhand … … Opp. Party --- CORAM :HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANUBHA RAWAT CHOUDHARY --- For the Petitioner : Mr. Sheo Kumar Singh, Advocate For the State : Mr. Someshwar Roy, APP For the Informant : Mr. Hadish Ansari, Advocate --- 05/23.07.2026 Heard the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the parties. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is in custody since 10.04.2026 in connection with Manatu P.S. Case No. 26 of 2023, for the offences registered under Sections 302,201, 120-B, 34 of the IPC and Section ¾ of the Prevention of Witch (Daain) Practices Act, pending in the court of learned Judicial Magistrate, 1st Class, Palamau. 3. The allegation against the petitioner is that the daughter-in-law of the petitioner was branded as witch (Daain) and she was killed and cremated. The incident occurred on 24.07.2023 and the FIR was lodged on 28.07.2023 after the cremation. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has no role to play and at best there could be some allegation against his wife and Devnarayan Yadav. The learned counsel for the petitioner has also submitted that the petitioner was availing the remedy of anticipatory bail and ultimately, he surrendered on 10.04.2026. Charge sheet has been submitted on 21.05.2026 against the petitioner under Sections 306/34 of the IPC. The learned counsel submits that apparently the daughter- in-law of the petitioner committed suicide. He has referred to the case diary and has submitted that independent witnesses have stated that she had committed suicide as she was found dead and the room was closed from inside. The learned counsel submits that independent witnesses have stated that at the time of cremation, informant was also present. The learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner is aged about 82 years. ( 2026:JHHC:21882 ) 2 4. Learned counsel for the opposite party-State and the informant have vehemently opposed the prayer for bail and has submitted that there is serious allegation with respect to the manner in which the daughter-in-law of the petitioner has been killed. He submits that as per the FIR itself, without consulting the informant, the cremation of his daughter was done. 5. After hearing the learned counsel for the parties and considering the manner in which the occurrence alleged to have been committed by branding the daughter-in-law of the petitioner as witch, and that the petitioner has avoided his arrest for a long time for about 3 years this court is not inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail at this stage. Accordingly, prayer for bail of the petitioner above named is rejected. 6. Let this order be communicated to the concerned court through FAX/e-mail. (Anubha Rawat Choudhary, J.) Dated: 23.07.2026 Uploaded on : 24.07.2026 Binit/