[2026:JHHC:380] -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI A.B.A. No. 32 of 2026 Sushant Mahto, aged about 25 years, Son of Bideshi Mahto, resident of Village-Bogula, P.O. Galgaltand, P.S.-Chandankiyari, District-Bokaro. ..... … Petitioner Versus The State of Jharkhand ..... … Opposite Party -------- CORAM : HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI ------ For the Petitioner : Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Advocate. For the State : Mr. B. Shastri, A.P.P. ------ 03/ 08.01.2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned A.P.P for the State. 2. The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in connection with Chandankiyari P.S. Case No. 129 of 2024, registered for the offence under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, pending in the court of learned Judicial Magistrate, 1st Class, Bokaro. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner happened to be the driver of the vehicle and allegations are made that 2.5 quintals of wheat and 12 quintals of rice were loaded on the said vehicle and the seizure was made from the office campus of Block Development Officer, Chandankiyari. He next submits that the petitioner was not present at the spot. He then submits that the petitioner was only following the direction of Ruplal Das, Assistant warehouse Manager of Chandankiyari Godown and of Asis Equbal, Door Step Delivery agent. He further submits that the petitioner is having no criminal antecedent and disclosure to that effect has been made in para-9 of the petition. 4. Learned A.P.P. appearing for the State has opposed the prayer and submits that the consignment was booked for Mahila [2026:JHHC:380] -2- Samiti, Chandankiyari, however, that consignment has not been reached to the said Mahila Samiti. 5. Considering that the petitioner was only following the direction of Ruplal Das, Assistant warehouse Manager of Chandankiyari Godown and of Asis Equbal, Door Step Delivery agent and the petitioner is only the driver of the vehicle and further the petitioner is having no criminal antecedent and disclosure to that effect has been made in para-9 of the petition, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 6. Accordingly, the petitioner, named above, is directed to surrender before the learned court within four weeks from today and in the event of her surrender / arrest, the petitioner, named above, shall be released on bail, on furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 25,000/- (twenty-five thousand), with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of learned Judicial Magistrate, 1st Class, Bokaro, in connection with Chandankiyari P.S. Case No. 129 of 2024, subject to conditions as laid down under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. (Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.) Dated:-08.01.2026 Amitesh/-