Neutral Citation No. ( 2026:JHHC:9291-DB ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Criminal Appeal (DB) No. 338 of 2026 Bhavani Sao @ Bhavani Prasad, son of Ganauri Sao, resident of Village: Sukri, PO and PS: Latehar, District: Latehar, Jharkhand. ... Appellant Versus The State of Jharkhand … Respondent --- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RONGON MUKHOPADHYAY HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRADEEP KUMAR SRIVASTAVA For the Appellant : Mr. Vikas Kumar, Advocate For the State : Spl.P.P. --- 02/02.04.2026 Heard Mr. Vikas Kumar, the learned counsel for the appellant and the learned Spl.P.P. This appeal is directed against the order dated 24.02.2026 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-III, Latehar in Bail Petition No. 15/2026, arising out of Manika PS Case No. 29 of 2020, whereby and whereunder, the prayer for bail of the appellant has been rejected. It has been alleged that the husband of the informant was suspected to have been murdered by the extremists. Submission has been advanced by the learned counsel for the appellant that there are no eye-witnesses to the incident and only on the basis of suspicion the appellant has been implicated. It has been submitted that in similar circumstances several of the co-accused persons have been granted bail in B.A. No. 10014 of 2021, Cr. Appeal (DB) No. 569 of 2023 and B.A. No. 3811 of 2024. Learned counsel further submits that the appellant is in custody since 28.12.2025. Learned Spl.P.P. has opposed the prayer for bail of the appellant. Regard being had to the fact that the appellant has been implicated on suspicion and several of the co-accused similarly situated having been granted bail, as noted above, we while setting aside the order dated 24.02.2026 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge- III, Latehar in Bail Petition No. 15/2026, arising out of Manika PS Case No. 29 of 2020, direct the appellant be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- (Rs. Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned ACJM, Latehar in connection with Manika PS Case No. 29 of 2020. This appeal is allowed. (RONGON MUKHOPADHYAY, J.) (PRADEEP KUMAR SRIVASTAVA, J.) 02.04.2026 S.B. Uploaded on 06.04.2026 -2-