( 2026:JHHC:26016 ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI A. B. A. No. 4903 of 2026 Devki Nandan Singh, aged about 68 years, son of late Jagdish Singh, resident of Sector-3/E, Qtr. No. 556, Post-Sector 3, Bokaro Steel City, P.S. B.S. City, District-Bokaro, Aadhar No. 326447507444. ...... … Petitioner Versus The State of Jharkhand .…. … Opposite Party -------- CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI For the Petitioner :Mr. Ram Kinkar, Advocate For the State : Mr. Shiv Shankar Kumar, A.P.P. For the Informant : Mr. Niladri S. Mukherjee, Advocate : M/s Sandhya Singh, Shrawan Kumar, Aman Mukherjee, Advocates 02/ 29.08.2026: Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State and learned counsel for the informant. 2. The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in connection with Sector 12 P.S. Case No. 39 of 2026, registered under sections 316(2), 318(2), 126(2), 115 (2) and 351 (3) of BNS, 2023, pending in the Court of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bokaro. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the matter is arising out of business terms and conditions between petitioner and informant and allegations are made that informant has also invested Rs. 14 lakh and the work was completed and even allegations are made that the petitioner has issued certain cheques which have been dishonoured and for that legal notice has been sent and thereafter the present case has been lodged. He next submits that if any case is made out that is civil in nature and for that criminal case has been lodged. On these grounds, he submits that the petitioner may kindly be provided privilege of anticipatory bail. 4. Learned counsels for the State and informant jointly oppose the prayer and submit that allegations are there of taking money, investing in the contract work and after having the bill payment was not made and ( 2026:JHHC:26016 ) even the cheque has been issued by the petitioner which has been dishnourerd for that legal notice has been issued in view of that the anticipatory bail may kindly be rejected. 5. From perusal of F.I.R, it transpires that allegations are there of investing Rs. 14 lakh in the contract work which was granted to the petitioner and investment was also made by the petitioner and allegations are made of not paying the amount and issuing of the cheque which has been dishonoured for that a legal notice has been issued. Prima facie it transpires that if any case is made out that is of Negotiable Instrument Act however F.I.R has been lodged and if the matter is arising out of Negotiable Instrument Act, complaint case can be filed that is well settled. Further in course of argument it has been pointed out that complaint case has already been filed with regard to dishonour of cheque which is still pending. 6. 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 Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bokaro, in connection with Sector 12 P.S. Case No. 39 of 2026, subject to conditions as laid down under Section 482 (2) of B.N.S.S, 2023. Dt.29.08.2026 ( Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.) satyarthi-