( 2026:JHHC:29984 ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI A.B.A. No. 5599 of 2026 Devendra Malto, aged about 53 years, son of Shamu Paharia, resident of Kustar Jetke Kumharjori, PO & PS – Borio, District – Sahibganj. … …Petitioner Versus The State of Jharkhand. … … …Opp. Party ------ HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR CHOUDHARY ------ For the Petitioner : Mr. Vikas Kumar, Advocate For the State : Mr. Pankaj Kumar, P.P. ------ Order No:- 02, Dated:- 07th October, 2026 Heard the parties. Apprehending his arrest in connection with Borio P.S. Case No. 32 of 2026 instituted under Sections 316(2), 316(5), 318(4), 336(3), 336(4), 338, 340(2) and 3(5) of the B.N.S., 2023, the petitioner has moved this Court for grant of privileges of anticipatory bail. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the allegation against the petitioner is that the petitioner being Mukhiya of Panchayat Jetke Kumharjori, defalcated money of MGNREGA scheme in criminal conspiracy with the co-accused person to the tune of Rs. 12,27,989/-. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner by drawing attention of this Court towards page no. 48 of the brief, which is the form of receipt issued by Nazir that the petitioner has already deposited his liability towards the defalcated amount of Rs. 2,64,120/-. It is next submitted that the allegation against the petitioner is false and the petitioner has no criminal antecedent as mentioned in para-29 of the instant Anticipatory Bail Application. Further, it is submitted that MGNREGA payment mechanism involves institutional and departmental procedure through Banking / DBT mechanism. It is further submitted that the petitioner undertakes to co-operate with the investigation of the case. It is lastly submitted that the petitioner also undertakes that he will not annoy or disturb the informant of the case or any of his family members in any manner during the pendency of the case. Hence, it is submitted that the petitioner be given the privilege of anticipatory bail. Learned counsel appearing for the State opposes the prayer for anticipatory bail of the petitioner. Considering the submissions of learned counsel and the facts and circumstances stated above, I am inclined to grant privileges of anticipatory bail to the petitioner. Accordingly, the petitioner is directed to surrender in the Court below within two weeks from today and in the event of his arrest or surrendering, he will be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/- (Twenty five thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Judicial Magistrate, Sahibganj, in connection with Borio P.S. Case No. 32 of 2026, with the condition that he will co- operate with the investigation of the case and appear before the investigating officer as and when noticed by him and furnish his mobile number and photocopy of the Aadhar Card with an undertaking that he will not change his mobile number during the pendency of the case and he will not annoy or disturb the informant of the case or any of his family members in any manner during the pendency of the case and further conditions as laid down under Section 482 (2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. (Anil Kumar Choudhary, J.) Dated – 07.10.2026 Aditi