Neutral Citation 2026:JHHC:26116-DB p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Cr. Appeal (DB) No. 998 of 2026 Pappu Pandey @ Umakant Pandey, S/o Govinda Pandey, R/o Baherwadah, P.O. & P.S.- Danda, Dist.- Garhwa. --- --- Appellant Versus The State of Jharkhand --- --- Respondent --- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RONGON MUKHOPADHYAY HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR RAI --- For the Appellants : Mr. A.K. Kashyap, Sr. Adv. For the State : Spl. P.P. --- 04/29.08.2026 Heard Mr. A.K. Kashyap, learned senior counsel for the appellant and learned Special P.P. 2. This appeal is directed against the order dated 06.05.2026 passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Garhwa in A.B.P. No. 251/2026 arising out of Garhwa Nagar P.S. Case No. 183 of 2026, whereby and whereunder, the prayer for anticipatory bail of the appellant has been rejected. 3. A joint team was constituted comprising of the informant and others on some reports regarding child labour and on 14.03.2026 two children were found engaged in loading and unloading of bricks. Both children were aged 13 years. It has been alleged that the children were engaged for work by the appellant. 4. It has been submitted by Mr. A.K. Kashyap, learned senior counsel for the appellant that the appellant has been implicated merely on the basis of suspicion. It was the parents who were working and the children had merely accompanied them and on a misconception that the appellant was indulging in child labour, he has been roped in the present case. It has been submitted that the appellant was fined Rs. 40,000/- by the Labour Superintendent, Garhwa and the said amount has been deposited in the Zila Bal Shramik Punarwas and Kalyan Kosh. Neutral Citation 2026:JHHC:26116-DB p. 2 5. Learned Special P.P. has opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail of the appellant and has submitted that in course of investigation sufficient materials have been collected against the appellant. 6. It appears from the allegations made and the perusal of the Case Diary that two children were found working in the brick kiln of the appellant and their primary job was loading and unloading of bricks. They were not paid the minimum wages by the appellant who is the owner of the brick kiln. The appellant was fined Rs. 20,000/- for each of the children by the Labour Superintendent, Garhwa and the total amount of Rs. 40,000/- has been deposited by the appellant in the account of the Zila Bal Shramik Punarwas and Kalyan Kosh. It also appears that the appellant has one criminal antecedent being Danda P.S. Case No. 51/2024 which relates to a road accident and in which the matter has been compromised between the parties. 7. On consideration of the aforesaid facts, we while setting aside the impugned order 06.05.2026 passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Garhwa in A.B.P. No. 251/2026 arising out of Garhwa Nagar P.S. Case No. 183 of 2026 direct the appellant to surrender before the learned trial court within a period of 04 weeks and on his surrender, he shall be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Garhwa in connection with Garhwa Nagar P.S. Case No. 183/2026. 8. This appeal is allowed. (Rongon Mukhopadhyay, J.) (Arun Kumar Rai, J.) Dated- 29th August, 2026. Preet/- Uploaded on: 01 /09 /2026.