( 2026:JHHC:25887 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI A. B. A. No. 4872 of 2026 Ashok Kumar Pradhan @ Ashok Pradhan, aged about 60 years, son of Chakradhar Pradhan, resident of Barasargidih, Jojokurma, Kharsawan, Road, P.O. and P.S. Kharsawan, District-Seraikella Kharsawan ...... … Petitioner Versus The State of Jharkhand .…. … Opposite Party -------- CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI For the Petitioner :Mr. Ashish Kumar, Advocate For the State : Mr. Prabhu Dayal Agrawal, Spl.P.P. 02/ 28.08.2026: Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State. 2. The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in connection with Kharsawan P.S. Case No. 25 of 2026, registered under sections 316(5) of BNS and section 7 of Essential Commodities Act, 1955, pending in the Court of learned Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, at Seraikella. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that none of the consumer has ever made complaint regarding the distribution of food grains. He next submits that licence of the petitioner was cancelled in the year 2023, enquiry was made in the year, 2024 and F.I.R has been lodged in the year, 2026. He next submits that the petitioner is running PDS shop since 1987 and no complaint was made earlier. He next submits that petitioner has got no criminal antecedent which is disclosed in para 26 of the petition. On these grounds, he submits that the petitioner may kindly be provided privilege of anticipatory bail. 4. Learned counsel for the State opposes the prayer and submits that in the enquiry the foodgrain was found lesser. 5. Considering that licence of the petitioner was cancelled in the year 2023, enquiry was made in the year, 2024 and F.I.R has been lodged in ( 2026:JHHC:25887 the year, 2026. The petitioner is running PDS shop since 1987 and he has got no criminal antecedent which is disclosed in para 26 of the petition and in the attending facts and circumstances of the case, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. Accordingly, the above named, petitioner is directed to surrender before the learned court within three weeks from today and in the event of his surrender / arrest, the petitioner 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 Ist Class at Seraikella, in connection with Kharsawan P.S. Case No. 25 of 2026, subject to conditions as laid down under Section 482 (2) of B.N.S.S, 2023. Dt.28.08.2026 ( Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.) satyarthi-